'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Milwaukee Bucks won the 2021 NBA Finals after storming back from a 0-2 deficit to beat the Phoenix Suns in six games. Giannis Antetokounmpo had an impressive performance in the close-out game, putting up 50 points and earning the NBA Finals MVP award.
Moreover, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday provided key plays in offense and defense, while PJ Tucker, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton contributed handsomely in only the second NBA championship win for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The team faced much adversity throughout the 2021 NBA Playoffs, especially during the second round against the mighty Brooklyn Nets with Kevin Durant and later with Antetokounpo's knee injury in the Eastern Conference Finals.
In the Finals series, the Milwaukee Bucks won four consecutive games after being down 0-2 following the first two clashes in Phoenix, sealing the title at home with a 105-98 win. In the process, Mike Budenholzer's team became only the fifth to recover from a 0-2 deficit to win the NBA Finals.
On that note, here's a look at the five teams who have recovered from 0-2 deficits to win the Championship, starting with the most recent team.
#5 Milwaukee Bucks - 2021 NBA Finals
Giannis Antetokounmpo's Milwaukee Bucks produced emphatic performances in the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
The narrative around the Antetokounmpo-led Milwaukee Bucks was that they do not perform during the postseason, especially Antetokounpo, but that was laid to rest this year. The 'Greek Freak' put up a stunning performance to take the Finals MVP award to virtually complete his stellar resume.
However, the journey was not easy as the Bucks overcame a 2-0 deficit in the second round against the Brooklyn Nets before winning the series in seven games. Also, in the NBA Finals, the Phoenix Suns got off to a hot start and took the first two games at home.
When many were even predicting a sweep, the Milwaukee Bucks kept their poise and won four consecutive games to become the fifth team in NBA history to win the NBA Finals after losing the first two games. Interestingly, the Bucks are only the third team to do so by winning four straight matches.
In the process, the Bucks won their second NBA Championship and their first in 50 years.
#4 Cleveland Cavaliers - 2016 NBA Finals
The 2016 NBA Finals might be one of the most exciting and dramatic ever in NBA history. The series finds a mention here because the Cleveland Cavaliers took the Larry O'Brien trophy after losing the first two games.
Of course, that series is mostly remembered for LeBron James and the Cavs recovering from a 3-1 deficit to beat the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in an epic Game 7. That was impressive, as Tyronn Lue's team lost the first two games by double digits.
After the Cavs took Game 3 at home, they suffered another blow to their chances as Stephen Curry and company won Game 4. However, James and Kyrie Irving both scored 41 points in Game 5, and 'The King' repeated the feat in Game 6 to force a winner-take-all Game 7 in Oakland.
On the road, the Cavs won the series with clutch plays from James and Irving to stun the Warriors and seal the most epic comeback in NBA Finals history. In the process, James earned his third NBA championship and the third NBA Finals MVP award of his glorious career.
#3 Miami Heat - 2006 NBA Finals
The 2006 NBA Finals were all about Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal's Miami Heat beating the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki to win their first title. However, it was not a straightforward win for the Pat Riley-coached Miami team.
While O'Neal was not in his prime, he remained a dominant figure in the paint. However, it was Dwyane Wade who led the Heat's offense to win the NBA Finals. Before Miami got going and won the series, the Mavs were up 2-0 after Nowitzki and Jason Terry starred in the first two games.
From then on, it was all about the Heat, starting with Gary Payton's game-winning shot in Game 3. Wade, who was then a third-year player, led the Heat to the NBA championship averaging 39 points and eight rebounds per game in the last four games of the series.
The 2006 NBA Finals marked only the second time a team won a Finals series in six games after losing the first two. Wade was named the NBA Finals MVP due to his exploits in the series, averaging 34.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
#2 Portland Trail Blazers - 1977 NBA Finals
The first team to win four straight games in the NBA Finals after falling into a 0-2 deficit is the Portland Trail Blazers. They stunned Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1977 NBA Finals.
Bill Walton was the on-court leader of the Blazers at the time, and his inspirational displays in the 1977 NBA Finals earned him the Finals MVP award and helped the Blazers stop Dr. J and his 76ers squad.
Dr. J and Doug Collins put the Sixers up 2-0 after the first two games of the series at the Philadelphia Spectrum. However, Walton, Maurice Lucas, Lionel Hollins and the Blazers stormed to tie the series at home with two blowouts before taking Game 5 by six points on the road.
In Game 6, the Blazers withstood a 40-point night from 'Doc' to win the 1977 NBA title. Walton was named the NBA Finals MVP after averaging 18.5 points, 19 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.7 blocks per game in the series.
#1 Boston Celtics - 1969 NBA Finals
The first team to overcome a 0-2 deficit in the NBA Finals is the legendary 1968-69 Boston Celtics, who defeated Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain's LA Lakers.
The aging Celtics were then coached by player-coach Bill Russell, who was looking for his 11th NBA title.
The Lakers got off to a hot start in the NBA Finals, winning the first two games. West scored 53 points in Game 1 and 41 in a big Game 2 battle against John Havlicek (who had 43 points for the Celtics, while Baylor added 32 for the LA Lakers).
The Celtics tied the series by protecting their home court in the third and fourth games. The LA Lakers struck back in LA in Game 5, with Jerry West putting up 39 points.
Boston won Game 6 at home, thanks to 25 points from Don Nelson and a great all-around performance from the team. The Celtics also won Game 7 on the road with a 108-106 victory, riding on 26 points from Havlicek, 24 from Sam Jones and 20 for Em Bryant. Russell himself had six points, six assists and 21 rebounds in his final NBA game.
This series is also remembered because Jerry West won the first Finals MVP award in history, even though he was on the losing side. He remains the only player to have done so in NBA history.
Also Read: 5 reasons why Milwaukee Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals.
Guess the Lakers players!
