Top 15 4th Quarter Comebacks of All Time

By Jacob Kornhauser

Top 15 4th Quarter Comebacks of All Time

Golden State Warriors v New Orleans Pelicans - Game Three — The Golden State Warriors put on a dazzling fourth-quarter performance in Game 3 of their Round 1 series against the New Orleans Pelicans. They closed a 20-point gap to force overtime, eventually coming away victorious after five extra minutes of play. It was the third largest comeback in NBA Playoffs history.

With that in mind, here's a look at some of the other greatest fourth-quarter comebacks in sports history.

15. 2011 Portland Trailblazers

Denver Nuggets v Portland Trail Blazers

15. 2011 Portland Trailblazers

Denver Nuggets v Portland Trail Blazers — Playoffs
Opposing Team: Dallas Mavericks
Deficit: 23 points

The Portland Trailblazers were the heavy underdogs in this playoff series. When they went down 23, them winning became seemingly impossible. However, they somehow banded together and pulled of the come-from-behind win.

14. 1982 Los Angeles Raiders

Oakland Raiders v Denver Broncos

14. 1982 Los Angeles Raiders

Oakland Raiders v Denver Broncos — Regular Season
Opposing Team: San Diego Chargers
Deficit: 24 points

Just when it all seemed over for the Los Angeles Raiders, they turned it on. Somehow circling the wagons and claiming a 28-24 victory, the Raiders claimed their spot in history.

13. 2008 Dallas Mavericks

Dallas Mavericks v San Antonio Spurs - Game Seven

13. 2008 Dallas Mavericks

Dallas Mavericks v San Antonio Spurs - Game Seven — Regular Season
Opposing Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Deficit: 29

The Dallas Mavericks were a powerhouse in the late 2000's, and they showed that off in this game. Down almost 30 points late, they rallied to down the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves.

12. 1987 St. Louis Cardinals

Houston Texans v Arizona Cardinals

12. 1987 St. Louis Cardinals

Houston Texans v Arizona Cardinals — Regular Season
Opposing Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Deficit: 25 points

The St. Louis Cardinals were down and out until a halftime adjustment did wonders for them. Somehow after being down 25, they rallied for a late 31-28 win.

11. 2007 Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers v San Antonio Spurs

11. 2007 Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers v San Antonio Spurs — Regular Season
Opposing Team: Sacramento Kings
Deficit: 13 points with 50 seconds left

In one of the most legendary short-term comebacks ever, the Los Angeles Lakers went on a 14-0 run with less than a minute left to upend the Sacramento Kings.

10. 1980 San Francisco 49ers

Kings Invitational - Day One

10. 1980 San Francisco 49ers

Kings Invitational - Day One — Regular Season
Opposing Team: New Orleans Saints
Deficit: 28 points

In the biggest regular season comeback ever, Joe Montana worked his magic. His team was down 35-7 at halftime, but he somehow was able to rally the troops and win 38-35 in overtime.

9. 2010 Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz v Minnesota Timberwolves

9. 2010 Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz v Minnesota Timberwolves — Regular Season
Opposing Team: Portland Trailblazers
Deficit: 25 points

The Utah Jazz aren't the greatest team in the world, but they sure looked like it on one night in 2010. Erasing a 25-point 4th quarter deficit, they gave their fans at least one reason to cheer.

8. 2003 San Francisco 49ers

NFC Championship - San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks

8. 2003 San Francisco 49ers

NFC Championship - San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks — Playoffs
Opposing Team: New York Giants
Deficit: 24 points

Led by a young Terrell Owens, the San Francisco 49ers beat their playoff rivals 39-38 in one of the craziest playoff games ever. Anytime a comeback like this happens between two evenly matched teams in the playoffs, it's even more impressive.

7. 1997 Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills v New England Patriots

7. 1997 Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills v New England Patriots — Regular Season
Opposing Team: Indianapolis Colts
Deficit: 26

The Buffalo Bills are owners of a couple of the greatest comebacks in NFL history. In this one, they got rid of a 26-point deficit and rallied for an incredibly improbable 37-35 win.

6. 2013 New England Patriots

AFC Championship - New England Patriots v Denver Broncos

6. 2013 New England Patriots

AFC Championship - New England Patriots v Denver Broncos — Regular Season
Opposing Team: Denver Broncos
Deficit: 24 points

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have always had a rivalry, and that intensified last season. With Peyton's team up 24, the game seemed in the bag. However, Brady rallied his team in classic fashion and upended the eventual AFC champions.

5. 2008 Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics v Philadelphia 76ers

5. 2008 Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics v Philadelphia 76ers — NBA Finals
Opposing Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Deficit: 24 points

In one of the biggest comebacks in NBA history, the Boston Celtics turned the tide of their NBA Finals series with the rival Los Angeles Lakers. Somehow they managed to turn a 24-point deficit into a win and it propelled them to a title.

4. 2009 Sacramento Kings

Phoenix Suns v Sacramento Kings

4. 2009 Sacramento Kings

Phoenix Suns v Sacramento Kings — Regular Season
Opposing Team: Chicago Bulls
Deficit: 35 points

Somehow the Sacramento Kings defeated the Chicago Bulls despite trailing by 35 points at one point. The Bulls were clearly the better team to begin with, but on this night, the Kings showed just how good they could be in short spurts.

3. 2014 Indianapolis Colts

Divisional Playoffs - Indianapolis Colts v New England Patriots

3. 2014 Indianapolis Colts

Divisional Playoffs - Indianapolis Colts v New England Patriots — Playoffs
Opposing Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Deficit: 28 points

By far the most recent of these comebacks, this one is fresh in our memory. Young quarterback Andrew Luck showed exactly why expectations are so high for him as he turned a 28-point halftime deficit into a playoff win.

2. 1995 Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers Ugly Throwback

2. 1995 Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers Ugly Throwback — Playoffs
Opposing Team: New York Knicks
Deficit: seven points with less than a minute left

This was Reggie Miller's marquee game in his career. He miraculously scored eight points in just nine seconds and rallied the Indiana Pacers to one of the more improbable playoff wins in NBA history.

1. 1993 Buffalo Bills

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Buffalo Bills

1. 1993 Buffalo Bills

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Buffalo Bills — Playoffs
Opposing Team: Houston Oilers
Deficit: 32 points

Led by Jim Kelly, the Buffalo Bills pulled off the craziest comebacks in sports history. Down by 32 points in a playoff game, the powerhouse Bills survived this scare and powered themselves into the Super Bowl.

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