
The Warriors know all about blowing a 3-1 series lead.
They can tell you about coming back from one, too.
During their record 73-win regular season in 2015-16, they overcame such a deficit to stun the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals, only to have the same thing happen to them when the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from a 3-1 hole to win the NBA title.
Sunday in Houston, the Warriors will try to avoid becoming the 14th team in league history to lose a series after leading 3-1.
The Rockets have pushed Golden State to the brink of a stunning first-round collapse by winning at home in Game 5 and on the road in Game 6.
About 95% of NBA teams that have taken a 3-1 series lead have gone on to advance, including 22 that were pushed to a seventh game.
Here is a list of the 13 teams didn’t survive after losing a 3-1 advantage, a list the Warriors hope will not need updating Sunday night:
1968: Boston Celtics def. Philadelphia 76ers in Eastern Division finals
1970: Los Angeles Lakers def. Phoenix Suns in Western Division semifinals
1979: Washington Bullets def. San Antonio Spurs in Eastern Conference finals
1981: Boston Celtics def. Philadelphia 76ers in Eastern Conference finals
1995: Houston Rockets def. Phoenix Suns in Western Conference semifinals
1997: Miami Heat def. New York Knicks in Eastern Conference semifinals
2003: Detroit Pistons def. Orlando Magic in Eastern Conference first round
2006: Phoenix Suns def. Los Angeles Lakers in Western Conference first round
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2015: Houston Rockets def. Los Angeles Clippers in Western Conference semifinals
2016: Golden State Warriors def. Oklahoma City Thunder in Western Conference finals
2016: Cleveland Cavaliers def. Golden State Warriors in NBA Finals
2020: Denver Nuggets def. Utah Jazz in Western Conference first round
2020: Denver Nuggets def. Los Angeles Clippers in Western Conference semifinals