Warriors face long odds, but it has been done
MIAMI — Here’s good news for Golden State: It’s not over. Close, but not over. There are nine teams in NBA history who have successfully overcome 3-1 deficits to win a series, which is the task the defending champion Warriors now face in their Western Conference finals matchup with Oklahoma City.
Here are the nine who overcame the odds:
Boston vs. Philadelphia, 1968
East Finals Game 5: Celtics 122, at 76ers 104 Game 6: at Celtics 114, 76ers 106 Game 7: Celtics 100, at 76ers 96 The Celtics did it the super-hard way, winning two of the final three games on the road. Boston trailed 57-56 at the half of Game 5 but went on a 38-23 fourth-quarter run to extend the series, then survived 40 points from Hal Greer to win Game 6 and got double-digit scoring from six players to take Game 7.
L.A. Lakers vs. Phoenix, 1970
West Semifinals Game 5: at Lakers 138, Suns 121 Game 6: Lakers 104, at Suns 93 Game 7: at Lakers 129, Suns 94 Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West each scored 36 points in Game 5 as the Lakers pulled away late. Game 6 was tied going into the fourth quarter and the Lakers found separation again, and then Game 7 was a rout.
Washington vs. San Antonio, 1979
East Finals Game 5: at Bullets 107, Spurs 103 Game 6: Bullets 108, at Spurs 100 Game 7: at Bullets 107, Spurs 105 George Gervin led a huge Spurs comeback try in Game 5 that fell just short, and the Bullets broke a tie with a 21-10 run late in Game 6. And in Game 7, Bobby Dandridge scored 37 points — the last of those a 12footer from the baseline in the final seconds — as the Bullets moved on to the NBA Finals.
Boston vs. Philadelphia, 1981 Houston vs. Phoenix, 1995
East Finals Game 5: at Celtics 111, 76ers 109 Game 6: Celtics 100, at 76ers 98 Game 7: at Celtics 91, 76ers 90 This was a series for the ages. Boston erased a six-point deficit in the final 1:51 of Game 5 to stay alive, scoring the final eight points. In Game 6, Boston was down by 17 in the second quarter and 15 in the third before rallying again. And one more comeback awaited in Game 7, the Celtics finding a way back from a seven-point hole midway through the fourth quarter. West Semifinals Game 5: Rockets 103, at Suns 97, OT Game 6: at Rockets 116, Suns 103 Game 7: Rockets 115, at Suns 114 Hakeem Olajuwon scored late to send Game 5 to overtime, where Houston escaped. In Game 6, Olajuwon scored 30 and the Rockets pulled away in the fourth quarter. And then in Game 7, Mario Elie’s corner 3-pointer in the final seconds was the decider as Houston went to the West finals.
Miami vs. New York, 1997 Detroit vs. Orlando, 2003
East Semifinals Game 5: at Heat 96, Knicks 81 Game 6: Heat 95, at Knicks 90 Game 7: at Heat 101, Knicks 90 Some probably remember this series for “The Fight.” The Knicks and Heat battled in Game 5 and the penalties were fierce — New York played without Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston and Charlie Ward for Game 6, then were without Larry Johnson and John Starks for Game 7. Tim Hardaway scored 38 points for Miami in the deciding game to oust the Knicks. East Quarterfinals Game 5: at Pistons 98, Magic 67 Game 6: Pistons 103, at Magic 88 Game 7: at Pistons 108, Magic 93 The top-seeded Pistons lost homecourt because they couldn’t contain Orlando’s Tracy McGrady in Game 1, but they figured out a solution in time to advance. A 14-0 run in the third quarter sparked a blowout, Chauncey Billups scored 40 points in Game 6 and followed that with 37 more in Game 7.
Phoenix vs. L.A. Lakers, 2006 Houston vs. L.A. Clippers, 2015
West Quarterfinals Game 5: at Suns 114, Lakers 97 Game 6: Suns 126, at Lakers 118, OT Game 7: at Suns 121, Lakers 90 Kobe Bryant’s jumper at the buzzer of Game 4 gave the Lakers a 3-1 series lead, but the second-seeded Suns fended off the upset bid. Boris Diaw scored 25 points in Game 5 for Phoenix, Tim Thomas hit a long 3 late in regulation of Game 6 to force overtime and Game 7 was decided quickly. Phoenix went seven games again in the West semifinals to beat the Los Angeles Clippers, then lost 4-2 in the West finals to Dallas. West Semifinals Game 5: at Rockets 124, Clippers 103 Game 6: Rockets 119, at Clippers 107 Game 7: at Rockets 113, Clippers 100 The Clippers won Game 3 by 25, then won Game 4 by 33 for a 3-1 series lead. James Harden had 26 points in Game 5 to lead Houston’s win, and then the Rockets outscored the Clippers 40-15 in the fourth quarter on the road in Game 6 to make a 13point deficit with 12 minutes left more than disappear.