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Here's the NBA history Pistons will try to join with 3-1 series comeback
TL;DR
The Detroit Pistons are down 3-1 in their playoff series against the Orlando Magic, facing a historic challenge. Historically, only 5.6% of teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA.
Key points
- Detroit Pistons are down 3-1 in the playoffs
- Facing the Orlando Magic in the first round
- Only 5.6% of teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit historically
Detroit PistonsOrlando Magic
If history is any indication, the Detroit Pistons' odds of overcoming a 3-1 series deficit are pretty low.
But they're not at zero.
The 1-seed Pistons find themselves down 3-1 vs the Orlando Magic in the first-round series, one loss away from a historic defeat to the 8-seed Magic.
There have been 298 NBA teams to own a 3-1 series lead, with 285 of them (95.6%) winning the series, entering these playoffs.
Detroit lost 94-88 on Monday in Game 4 at Orlando.
Thirteen teams (4.4%) that were down 3-1 in a series ended up winning, with four happening since 2016 (though none since 2020). Those aren't great odds for the 2026 Pistons.
However, a 1-seed Pistons team in the same exact situation as this year's Pistons pulled off one of
Here is the list of the 13 teams who overcame the odds.
List of NBA teams who won playoff series after being down 3-1
- 2020: (3) Denver Nuggets beat (2) Los Angeles Clippers, Western Conference semifinals.
- 2020: (3) Denver Nuggets beat (6) Utah Jazz, West first round.
- 2016: (1) Cleveland Cavaliers beat (1) Golden State Warriors, NBA Finals.
- 2016: (1) Golden State Warriors beat (3) Oklahoma City Thunder, West finals.
Q&A
What is the history of NBA teams coming back from a 3-1 series deficit?
Historically, 285 out of 298 NBA teams with a 3-1 series lead have won the series, indicating a low likelihood of comeback.
Which teams are involved in the Pistons vs Magic playoff series?
The teams involved are the Detroit Pistons, the 1-seed, and the Orlando Magic, the 8-seed.
What would a Pistons loss mean for their playoff history?
A loss would mark a historic defeat for the Pistons, as they would be the first 1-seed to lose to an 8-seed after being up 3-1.
