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How Teams Trailing 2–0 in NBA Finals (Like the Spurs) Have Fared in History—Full List
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The Spurs face an uphill battle in the 2026 NBA Finals.
San Antonio has held double-digit leads in both games of the Finals against the Knicks—a 14-point lead in Game 1 and a 12-point lead in Game 2—but has no wins to show for it. New York closed out Game 1 with an 11–0 run in the final two minutes, and Victor Wembanyama committed a costly turnover with 11 seconds to play in the Spurs’ Game 2 loss.
Now, the Spurs find themselves where 37 other teams in NBA history have been before: facing a 2–0 series deficit in the NBA Finals.
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Of those previous 37 teams, only five have come back to win the championship. Three others forced a Game 7 and lost. Since the first edition of the Finals in 1947, it’s been more common for teams facing a 2–0 Finals deficit to get swept (nine times) than to force a Game 7 and/or complete a comeback and hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy (eight times).
The Spurs don’t have to look too far back in league annals to find an example of a team to overcome it, though. In 2021, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks trailed the Suns 2–0 after losing the first two games of the Finals by a total of 23 points. Just about every pundit proclaimed the series was over until Antetokounmpo turned things around in Game 3, and the Bucks went on to win the title in six games.
Here’s a look at every team to face a 2–0 deficit in the Finals and how it went:
A full list of every team to trail 2–0 in NBA Finals
YEAR | TEAM DOWN 2–0 | OPPONENT | FINALS RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
2026 | Spurs | Knicks | TBD |
2024 | Mavericks | Celtics | Celtics in 5 |
2021 | Bucks | Suns | Bucks in 6 |
2020 | Heat | Lakers | Lakers in 6 |
2018 | Cavaliers | Warriors | Warriors in 4 |
2017 | Cavaliers | Warriors | Warriors in 5 |
2016 | Cavaliers | Warriors | Cavs in 7 |
2009 | Magic | Lakers | Lakers in 5 |
2008 | Lakers | Celtics | Celtics in 6 |
2007 | Cavaliers | Spurs | Spurs in 4 |
2006 | Heat | Mavericks | Heat in 6 |
2005 | Pistons | Spurs | Spurs in 7 |
2002 | Nets | Lakers | Lakers in 4 |
2000 | Pacers | Lakers | Lakers in 6 |
1999 | Knicks | Spurs | Spurs in 5 |
1997 | Jazz | Bulls | Bulls in 6 |
1996 | SuperSonics | Bulls | Bulls in 6 |
1995 | Magic | Rockets | Rockets in 4 |
1993 | Suns | Bulls | Bulls in 6 |
1989 | Lakers | Pistons | Pistons in 4 |
1987 | Celtics | Lakers | Lakers in 6 |
1986 | Rockets | Celtics | Celtics in 6 |
1983 | Lakers | 76ers | 76ers in 4 |
1977 | Trail Blazers | 76ers | Trail Blazers in 6 |
1976 | Suns | Celtics | Celtics in 6 |
1975 | Bullets | Warriors | Warriors in 4 |
1971 | Bullets | Bucks | Bucks in 4 |
1969 | Celtics | Lakers | Celtics in 7 |
1967 | Warriors | 76ers | 76ers in 6 |
1965 | Lakers | Celtics | Celtics in 5 |
1964 | Warriors | Celtics | Celtics in 5 |
1963 | Lakers | Celtics | Celtics in 6 |
1961 | Hawks | Celtics | Celtics in 5 |
1959 | Lakers | Celtics | Celtics in 4 |
1955 | Pistons | Nationals | Nationals in 7 |
1951 | Knicks | Royals | Royals in 7 |
1949 | Capitols | Lakers | Lakers in 6 |
1947 | Stags | Warriors | Warriors in 5 |
However, the Spurs face a tougher task ahead than any of those five aforementioned championship-winning teams—the 2021 Bucks, 2016 Cavaliers, 2006 Heat, 1977 Trail Blazers and 1969 Celtics—did when they went down 2–0. All five of those teams lost the first two games of the Finals on the road, and returned to the friendly confines of their home arena for Game 3.
San Antonio, on the other hand, will hit the road and will play Game 3 in front of a rowdy Madison Square Garden crowd that is starving to watch the Knicks win their first title since 1973.
The Spurs are just the third team in history to start the NBA Finals by losing both games at home. The other two teams to do so—the 1995 Magic and 1993 Suns—lost in four and six games, respectively.
Teams to trail 2–0 in NBA Finals after hosting first two games
YEAR | TEAM DOWN 2–0 | OPPONENT | FINALS RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
2026 | Spurs | Knicks | TBD |
1995 | Magic | Rockets | Rockets in 4 |
1993 | Suns | Bulls | Bulls in 6 |
Game 3 is a must-win for San Antonio. No team in NBA history has ever won a series—no matter the round—when facing a 3–0 deficit.
The Spurs will have a chance to get their championship dreams back on track when they visit the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in Game 3 on Monday. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.
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Tom Dierberger is the Deputy News Director at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor’s in communication from St. John’s University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.