For basketball’s Dallas Mavericks and hockey’s Edmonton Oilers, the comeback efforts are just beginning and still have very long ways to go.
That said, they’re off to unprecedented starts on the court and the ice.
The Mavericks’ 38-point win over the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night and Edmonton’s seven-goal win over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday were both — by far — the biggest victories by teams facing 3-0 deficits in an NBA or NHL title series.
It was the third time a team facing a 3-0 deficit won in the NBA Finals, and the ninth time a team in that predicament has done so in the Stanley Cup Final.
What does history say about the state of things for the Mavericks and the Oilers? Here’s a look at the times a team down 3-0 prevailed in Game 4 of the NBA and NHL title rounds, and what happened next in those best-of-seven series.
NBA
2024: Dallas 122, Boston 84
It was a 38-point win for the Mavericks, the third-largest margin in any NBA Finals game, and could have been even worse: Boston trailed by as many as 48 points.
What happened next: TBD. Game 5 is in Boston on Monday.
1996: Seattle SuperSonics 107, Chicago Bulls 86
A 28-11 burst in the second quarter set the tone for the Sonics, who fended off elimination.
What happened next: Seattle won Game 5, but Chicago finished off the title in Game 6.
2017: Cleveland Cavaliers 137, Golden State Warriors 116
Golden State was bidding for a 16-0 playoff record, but Cleveland scored 49 points in the first quarter before adding 37 in the second quarter. Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving totaled 40 points, and forward LeBron James added 31 with 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
What happened next: Golden State won Game 5 and captured the title.
The Canadian Press photo by Jeff McIntosh via AP / The Edmonton Oilers’ Ryan McLeod (71) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the visiting Florida Panthers during the third period of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night in Canada. The Oilers were down 3-0 in the best-of-seven series before their 8-1 blowout of the Panthers to force Game 5, which is set for Tuesday night in Florida.NHL
2024: Edmonton 8, Florida 1
It was one-sided from the outset, the Oilers jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead to set the tone, making it 6-1 after two periods and then tacking on two more goals late.
What happened next: TBD. Game 5 is in Florida on Tuesday.
2021: Montreal Canadiens 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (OT)
Josh Anderson scored 3:57 into overtime to extend the series, but it would prove to be Montreal’s final goal of the season.
What happened next: Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 22 shots in a 1-0 shutout as the Lightning won Game 5 to close it out.
2014: New York Rangers 2, Los Angeles Kings 1
Martin St. Louis’ second-period goal was the difference for the Rangers, who cut the Kings’ deficit to 3-1.
What happened next: The Kings won the Stanley Cup in five games, winning a double-overtime thriller 3-2 on the 51st and final shot they sent toward Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist.
2012: New Jersey Devils 3, Kings 1
Adam Henrique (who now plays for the Oilers) scored teh winning goal as the Devils survived Game 4 to extend the series.
What happened next: The Devils won Game 5 as well, but the Kings took the Cup in Game 6.
1981: Minnesota North Stars 4, New York Islanders 2
Minnesota scored twice in the final 7:34 to fend off elimination and send the series back to New York for Game 5.
What happened next: The Islanders took Game 5 by a 5-1 score for their second straight Cup, part of a run of four consecutive titles.
1957: Boston Bruins 2, Canadiens 0
Fleming Mackell scored both goals and Don Simmons stopped 21 shots for the season-saving shutout by Boston.
What happened next: Game 5 at the Montreal Forum was a rout, with the Canadiens winning 5-1 for another title.
1946: Bruins 3, Canadiens 2, OT
Terry Reardon scored 15 minutes into the extra session to extend the series.
What happened next: Toe Blake scored to start a three-goal barrage in the third and Montreal would win Game 5 to take the title.
1945: Detroit Red Wings 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 3
The Wings got three goals in the third to erase a 3-2 deficit and extend the series.
What happened next: Detroit won Games 5 and 6 as well, but Babe Pratt’s power-play goal with 7:46 left in Game 7 would lift Toronto to the Stanley Cup.
1942: Maple Leafs 4, Red Wings 3
Nick Metz’s goal with 7:15 left capped a third-period comeback for the Maple Leafs and started something that would become historic — the first successful rally by an NHL team from a 3-0 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Final. The feat hasn’t been matched since.
What happened next: Toronto won the next three games by scores of 9-3, 3-0 and 3-1 to win the title.