The 5 worst chokes in NBA history: A list of the most shocking losses

Unlike soccer, basketball games are extremely fast-paced, with a much smaller court and constant ball movement aimed at scoring as many points as possible. Therefore, if a team gains a significant advantage, it becomes very difficult for the opponent to turn the game around. In this article, basketscores.com looks back at the 5 worst chokes in NBA history.

The 5 worst chokes in NBA history

This list reflects the author’s personal opinion.

1. 2016 Golden State Warriors (Finals)

That year, the Golden State Warriors were the strongest team in the NBA, setting an unprecedented regular-season record of 73-9. They advanced to the NBA Finals to face LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers and led the series 3-1. However, things changed from that point.

Towards the end of Game 4, Draymond Green collided with LeBron James and received a flagrant foul. Having accumulated enough flagrant foul points from previous rounds, Green was suspended for Game 5. Without their defensive anchor, GSW allowed LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to score 41 points each, cutting the series lead to 3-2. Then, GSW’s starting center suffered a knee injury in Game 5 and missed the rest of the series.

Without their defensive presence, GSW were unable to protect the paint from LeBron’s drives, and Game 7 became extremely tense. In the final three minutes, GSW failed to score a single point. Curry missed several shots, including a costly turnover on a pass to Klay Thompson, and ultimately, the Cavaliers won the championship. GSW set an unwanted record by becoming the only team in NBA Finals history to lose after leading 3-1.

2. 2011 Miami Heat (Finals)

The Miami Heat, considered the first “superteam” of the modern era, entered the Finals as the clear favorite, while the Dallas Mavericks were seen as significantly weaker. However, in this series, LeBron James underperformed.

The key moment came in Game 2, where Miami led by 15 points with only seven minutes left in the fourth quarter but lost to Dallas 95-93 at home. This became the most important psychological turning point of the series. Ultimately, the Dallas Mavericks won 4-2. This defeat affected LeBron James for many years. However, he later admitted that the 2011 loss was the most important lesson that helped him change his mindset and go on to win four championships.

3. 2007 Dallas Mavericks (First Round)

In 2007, the Dallas Mavericks finished the season with a 67-15 record, the best in franchise history and the best in the NBA that year. They were also the top championship contender. However, in the first round, they were defeated by the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors.

Under relentless defense from Stephen Jackson and Baron Davis, Dirk Nowitzki shot only 38.3% from the field throughout the series. In the decisive Game 6, he scored just 8 points. Meanwhile, the Warriors dominated Dallas with a 111-86 victory, creating one of the biggest upsets in playoff history. This series is remembered as the first time an eighth seed defeated a top seed in a best-of-seven format.

4. 2020 LA Clippers (Western Semifinals)

The Clippers entered the season as strong championship contenders after acquiring Kawhi Leonard (who had just won a championship with the Raptors) and Paul George. They led the Denver Nuggets 3-1 in the series and had a 95% chance of advancing. However, in the final three games, the Clippers stunned everyone with three heavy defeats.

In Game 5, the Clippers led by 16 points but lost 105-111. In Game 6, they led by 19 points in the third quarter but allowed the Nuggets to stage a comeback and lost 98-111. Finally, in Game 7, the Clippers collapsed in the fourth quarter, scoring only 15 points and losing 89-104. This defeat shows that even with top superstars, a team can still fall apart if it lacks mental toughness and timely tactical adjustments.

5. 2000 Portland Trail Blazers (Western Finals)

That year, Portland had a deep roster featuring Rasheed Wallace, Scottie Pippen, and Arvydas Sabonis. In this series, the Portland Trail Blazers built a strong position but allowed the Lakers to force a Game 7.

In Game 7, at the start of the fourth quarter, Portland led the Lakers by 15 points (71-55). At that moment, most people believed Portland would advance to the Finals. However, in the following seven minutes, Portland completely lost their rhythm, missing 13 consecutive shots. Taking advantage, the Lakers went on a 25-4 run. Ultimately, the brilliance of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal secured the Lakers’ victory.

Following this defeat, the Portland team gradually declined, and it took many years for them to return as a top contender. In contrast, the Lakers went on to win the 2000 championship, beginning their historic three-peat.

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