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The Biggest Comeback In NBA History

Over the years, the NBA has seen some incredible nail-biting recoveries. There were teams that were able to come back after 30 points down within a quarter, and some even managed to come back after 20 points down in a matter of minutes.

That's one of the things that makes basketball so fun to watch - if the team and the player have heart, it's not over until the end. It's also something that those who are buying what CloudBet has to offer should keep in mind since there's no such thing as a sure bet.

Phoenix Suns 29-Point Comeback

One of the greatest comebacks for the Suns came in 2003 in a game against the Celtics. The low point came four minutes into the second quarter when the Suns were 30 points down. It wasn't the team that we know now. They hadn't yet signed Steve Nash but had Rookie of the Year Amar'e Stoudemire.

The comeback was mostly led by Stephon Marbury, who finished the game with 34 points and seven assists. The Suns ended up winning with 110:106, and an amazing dunk by Archie Goodwin was the perfect way to end the game.

Toronto Raptors 30-Point Comeback

Toronto Raptors were playing against the Mavericks in 2019. The team was never really the same after Kawhi Leonard left, but this game may have been its great sendoff. The team was celebrating a championship in the 2019-2020 season, but they were also trying to find themselves after losing their best player.

Kyle Lowry is often credited for this comeback after a minus 30 points, but there's also some credit for Chris Boucher, who scored a career-high 21 points. In the fourth, the Mavericks managed to get in 20 points, so one less than Lowry on his own.

Trailblazers 30 Point Comeback

The 2019 season was great for unlikely comebacks, as that's when the Trailblazers played the Kings and came back after 30 points down. In the second quarter, the score was 59:87 for the Kings, and the game seemed lost.

Anfernee Simons had scored a ridiculous 37 points and nine assists. This game was a breakthrough for him and cemented his status as a rising star. It's also interesting to note that the Trailblazers only used six players throughout the game, which ended with a score of Trailblazers 136 - Kings 131.

Lakers 30-Point Comeback

In 2002, the Lakers returned from being down 30 points in the game against the Mavericks. It was one of the best seasons in history for the Lakers with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. The duo won the team three championships in a row, and this was an amazing comeback.

Kobe finished the game with 27 points, and Shaq chipped in 26 of his own. The final score was Lakers 105 - Mavericks 103. However, it was also one of the best years for the Mavericks since they finished the season with 60 wins and made it to the Western Conference Finals.

Warriors 31-Point Comeback

In the early days of the Golden State Warriors, the team was defined by Ricky Barry. That was the case with this 1975 game against the Bucks. The Warriors found themselves in 31 points minus. The game was a nail-biter until the end, with a final score of Warriors 106 - Bucks 105.

Phil Smith and Gus Williams would go on to drop 22 points each, leading to one of the biggest comebacks in the league's history. The Warriors also ended up winning the championship.

Jazz 31 Point Comeback

In a rivalry between the Jazz and the Bulls in the 90s, the Bulls mostly got the upper hand (they won the finals in 97 and 98). However, in the 1998 game, the Utah Jazz managed to come back after being 31 points behind and against the best team the Bulls have ever had.

Michael Jordan had one of the best games of his career that night and scored 40 points. On the Utah Jazz side, John Stockton bested him and the Bulls with a 17-point and 18-assist performance. The final score was Jazz 101 - Bulls 93.

Celtics 32 Point Comeback

One of the biggest comebacks in the history of the League came in 2021 in a game between the Celtics and the Spurs. At the half break, the Celtics were losing 77-48, but Jayson Tatum managed to save the team with one of his best performances (including those in the NBA finals the year before).

Tatum scored 60 points that night and managed to win against the Celtics with a final score of 143 - Spurs 140. He also led the Celtics to another final in 2022, cementing his status as one of the best players the team has ever had.

Kings 35 Point Comeback

The late 2000s were a strange time for the bulls. They had just drafted future MVP Derrick Rose and DPOY Joakim Noah, while Luol Deng was still coming into his own. The team was trying to find itself while the Kings were at their best. That's what has helped them come back after being down 35 points.

Tyreke Evans led the way for the Kings, scoring 23, and the second leading scorer for the Kings was former Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka, putting up 17 points of his own. The final score was Kings 102, Bulls 98.

Clippers 35 Point Comeback

The Clippers have had a strange team in 2022. Their team was not among the best when usual statistics were taken into account, but somehow, it managed to find its way to win even when it seemed unlikely. This is what happened in their game against the Wizards.

At the half, they were 25 points down, and at one point, there was a 35 point lead for the Wizards. Amir Coffey scored a career-high 29 points for the depleted Clippers. The end result was Clippers 116 - Wizards 115 after a last-second 4-pointer.

Jazz 36 Point Comeback

The Jazz were a unique team in the 90s. They never won a championship, but they were a formidable team, often managing to beat the teams that were considered far superior in that era. This is what happened in the game against the Denver Nuggets in 1996. They were 36 points behind at one point, and the game seemed over.

Everything changed in the second half. Karl Malone led the way with 21 points, ultimately overcoming the deficit and leading the biggest comeback in NBA history. The final score was Jazz 107 - Nuggets 103.

What Can We Learn From These Comebacks?

There have been some completely amazing comebacks over the years, and some of them happened when both teams were at their best. It's always a fun and exciting game to watch as it's interesting to route for the underdog. But there's also something to learn from the comebacks we mentioned.

There are no sure things, and the game isn't over until the clock runs out. Those on the field and those making wagers at home would do well to remember that. It's what makes the game so fun to experience and play – everything can change as long as you're willing to keep trying.