The Mavericks aren’t out yet.
Dallas looked all but finished after dropping the first three games of the 2024 NBA Finals to Boston. It showed some pride at home in Game 4.
The Mavericks completely routed Boston from the get-go, coming away with a convincing win.
History isn’t on Dallas’ side. Teams that have taken a 3-0 lead in an NBA Playoff series are 156-0 when it comes to finishing the job. The Mavericks will have to steal Game 5 in Boston to keep its hopes of making history alive, but they’re one step closer after Friday’s beatdown.
What is the closest a team has come to completing a 3-0 comeback in the Finals? The Sporting News has answers below.
MORE: Key stats and highlights from Mavericks’ Game 4 win in NBA Finals
Has a team ever come back from 3-0 deficit in NBA Finals?
No team has ever come back from down 3-0 in any playoff series, never mind the Finals.
Dallas is only the 15th team in NBA history to fall into a 3-0 hole in the Finals. Nine of those 15 teams were swept. Of the remaining six teams, only three took the series beyond Game 5.
The Washington Capitols forced a Game 6 against the Lakers in the 1949 “BAA” Finals but were routed by 21 points to lose the series 4-2.
The Seattle SuperSonics took two games off Michael Jordan’s Bulls after falling down 3-0 in the 1996 NBA Finals, but Chicago closed out at home in Game 6.
The Knicks came so close to making history against the Rochester Royals in the 1951 NBA Finals. New York pulled off three consecutive wins to force a Game 7, but the Royals edged out a four-point victory at home to finish the job.
You can find the complete results of teams to go down 3-0 in the NBA Finals below.
| Year | Team to go up 3-0 | Opponent | Result |
| 2024 | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks | TBD |
| 2018 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | Warriors won 4-0 |
| 2017 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | Warriors won 4-1 |
| 2007 | San Antonio Spurs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Spurs won 4-0 |
| 2002 | Los Angeles Lakers | New Jersey Nets | Lakers won 4-0 |
| 1996 | Chicago Bulls | Seattle SuperSonics | Bulls won 4-2 |
| 1995 | Houston Rockets | Orlando Magic | Rockets won 4-0 |
| 1989 | Detroit Pistons | Los Angeles Lakers | Pistons won 4-0 |
| 1983 | Philadelphia 76ers | Los Angeles Lakers | 76ers won 4-0 |
| 1975 | Golden State Warriors | Washington Bullets | Warriors won 4-0 |
| 1971 | Milwaukee Bucks | Washington Bullets | Bucks won 4-0 |
| 1959 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | Celtics won 4-0 |
| 1951 | Rochester Royals | New York Knicks | Royals won 4-3 |
| 1949 | Los Angeles Lakers | Washington Capitols | Lakers won 4-2 |
| 1947 | Philadelphia Warriors | Chicago Stags | Warriors won 4-1 |