What is the biggest collapse in NBA history?

Some of these teams were one win from a title; others were the best regular-season side anyone had seen. Every entry is an argument about what counts as worse.

1. 1
   2013 San Antonio Spurs

   Led Game 6 of the Finals by five with 28 seconds left before Ray Allen's corner three forced overtime.
   1000pts
2. 2
   2016 Golden State Warriors

   Won a record 73 games, then became the first team to lose an NBA Finals after leading the series 3-1.
   992pts
3. 3
   2022 Phoenix Suns

   Won 64 games, then lost Game 7 at home to Dallas by 33 points.
   857pts
4. 4
   2006 Dallas Mavericks

   Led the Finals 2-0, lost a late Game 3 lead, and then dropped four straight to Miami.
   714pts
5. 5
   2015 LA Clippers

   Went up 3-1 on Houston, then surrendered a 19-point second-half lead at home in Game 6.
   647pts
6. 6
   2011 Miami Heat

   Lost the Finals to Dallas in the first season of the Big Three, after promising a run of titles.
   571pts
7. 7
   2008 Los Angeles Lakers

   Surrendered a 24-point lead in Game 4 of the Finals against Boston and lost the series.
   571pts
8. 8
   2018 Houston Rockets

   Missed 27 consecutive three-pointers in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals and lost at home.
   571pts
9. 9
   2000 Portland Trail Blazers

   Led Game 7 of the Western Conference finals by 15 in the fourth quarter and lost to the Lakers.
   483pts
10. 10
    2020 LA Clippers

    Led Denver 3-1 in the bubble semifinals with a title-favourite roster and lost three straight.
    483pts
11. 11
    2018 Cleveland Cavaliers

    J.R. Smith dribbled out the clock in a tied Game 1 of the Finals, and Cleveland was swept.
    483pts
12. 12
    2023 Milwaukee Bucks

    Held the league's best record and went out in the first round to the eighth-seeded Heat.
    381pts
13. 13
    2004 Los Angeles Lakers

    Assembled four future Hall of Famers and lost the Finals to Detroit in five games.
    381pts
14. 14
    2010 Boston Celtics

    Led Game 7 of the Finals into the fourth quarter before the Lakers turned the game around.
    260pts
15. 15
    2026 San Antonio Spurs

    Gave up a 29-point lead in Game 4 of the 2026 Finals, the largest blown lead in championship-game history.
    260pts
16. 16
    2007 Dallas Mavericks

    Won 67 games and became the first top seed to lose a seven-game first round to an eighth seed.
    260pts
17. 17
    1994 Seattle SuperSonics

    The first number-one seed in NBA history to lose a playoff series to an eighth seed.
    0pts

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