List of teams that have overcome 3–1 series deficits

Three major North American professional sports leagues have playoff series that can reach a seventh game: Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL). In the history of these leagues, teams that were down 3–1 in a series have come back to win the series 59 times; 14 times in MLB, 15 times in the NBA, and 31 times in the NHL. The most recent instance was accomplished by the Detroit Pistons of the NBA in the 2026 NBA playoffs. There have been three instances of a team coming back from a 3–1 deficit twice in the same postseason, occurring once each in the MLB, NBA, and NHL. The most recent instance was by the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 NBA playoffs. The other two instances occurred by the Kansas City Royals in the 1985 MLB postseason (the only instance where that team also won the championship) and the Minnesota Wild in the 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs. Within the World Hockey Association and American Basketball Association, which each merged with the NHL and NBA, respectively, only one team came back from a 3–1 deficit: the Indiana Pacers came back to defeat the Kentucky Colonels in Eastern Division Semifinals of the 1969 ABA Playoffs. The WHA had just one team force a game seven after being down 3–1 with the Quarterfinals in the 1976 WHA playoffs; the Indianapolis Racers forced game seven but lost to the New England Whalers. ==Key==

Successful comebacks MLB teams have overcome 3–1 deficits 14 times (including 1 when trailing 3–0), 6 of which occurred in the World Series. This does not count the 1903 World Series, during which the Boston Americans (or Puritans, or Pilgrims, depending on the source, and later known as the Red Sox) came back from a 3–1 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 games to 3, as that was a best-of-9 series. The Boston Red Sox have the most 3–1 comebacks with 3. The St. Louis Cardinals have the most blown 3–1 leads, with 4. Unsuccessful comebacks 6 other MLB teams have evened the series after being down 3–1 (including 1 when trailing 3–0), only to lose Game 7. == National Basketball Association ==

Successful comebacks NBA teams have overcome 3–1 deficits 15 times, only 1 of which occurred in the NBA Finals. The NBA is the only major North American sport with a best-of-7 playoff series where no team has overcome a 3–0 deficit. The most recent instance was accomplished by the Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons during the 2026 NBA playoffs. The Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and Houston Rockets are tied for the most 3–1 comebacks, with 2 each. The Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Phoenix Suns, are tied for the most blown 3–1 leads, with 2 each. Unsuccessful comebacks 23 other NBA teams have evened the series after being down 3–1 (including 4 when trailing 3–0), only to lose Game 7. == National Hockey League ==

Successful comebacks NHL teams have overcome 3–1 deficits 32 times (including 4 when trailing 3–0), only one of which occurred in the Stanley Cup Final. The most recent instance was accomplished by the Florida Panthers during the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. The New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, and Montreal Canadiens are tied with the most successful 3–1 series comebacks in the NHL, with 3 each. The Washington Capitals have the most blown 3–1 leads, with 5. Unsuccessful comebacks 33 other NHL teams have evened the series after being down 3–1 (including 6 when trailing 3–0), only to lose Game 7. == See also ==