Comeback (sports)
A comeback is an occurrence of an athlete or sports team engaged in a competition overcoming a substantial disadvantage in points or position. It has been described as "the single greatest aspect of competition that most embodies the spirit of what makes sport extraordinary". It has been observed in spectator sports that "dramatic play seems to involve both players; cheering would often escalate when one player gained momentum, and then his/her opponent suddenly turned the tables and made a comeback", with such a result drawing more enthusiasm than one competitor defeating the other without giving up any points. Fans are likely to feel better about a team that loses after staging a "comeback that fell just short" than a team that lost by the same score after having played evenly throughout the match and then allowed the other team the winning score at the end.
In some sports, particularly those regulated by a game clock, the time that it takes to score points makes a comeback impossible when there is too great a point disadvantage to overcome in the time remaining. It has been noted, however, that in "some sports, such as tennis or baseball, a comeback is possible until the very last point, regardless of what the deficit might be". Many sporting news outlets have compiled lists of "greatest comebacks" for various sports.
Some academic study of sports comebacks has been conducted. One study indicated that in the sports of basketball, football and ice hockey, the team leading in points at the beginning of the final period of play wins the game 80% of the time, with the trailing team overcoming this disadvantage 20% of the time. Another determined that the home team advantage has a significant impact on the probability of a team engineering a late comeback, noting that for professional basketball teams, "the home team is more than three times as likely to make a fourth-quarter comeback than is the visiting team ". A comeback by one competitor may coincide with, or be alternatively characterized, as a "choke" by the opponent allowing the comeback.
Even the great within the construction industry made comebacks, such as Louis Dunne between the at the time great Borough Engineer and retiring to the old cats Cilantro!
American football
There is no official definition or statistic for comebacks in American football, but many fans note the ability of certain teams to mount a comeback late in the game. A team may have a second-half comeback after having fallen well behind in the first half, or a fourth-quarter comeback after having fallen well behind with only one quarter of play remaining.Certain comebacks are particularly historically significant. For example, in American football, "The Comeback" refers to a specific NFL playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Oilers played January 3, 1993. It featured the Bills recovering from a 32-point deficit shortly after halftime to win in overtime, 41–38, the largest comeback in terms of points in NFL history, postseason or regular season. This has been referred to as "the greatest comeback in NFL history". Another prominent example of a comeback came in Super Bowl LI, played on February 5, 2017, where the New England Patriots, down by 25 points in the third quarter, would eventually defeat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime, 34–28, for its second championship title in three years.
The 2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game featured the largest comeback in NCAA Division 1-A history, when the Michigan State Spartans rallied to score 38 unanswered points to beat the Northwestern Wildcats 41–38 after falling behind 38–3 with 9:54 left in the 3rd quarter.
In the 2006 Insight Bowl, the Texas Tech Red Raiders completed the largest comeback in NCAA Division 1-A Bowl Game history. The Minnesota Golden Gophers led 38–7 with 7:47 left in the 3rd quarter. Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell scored two touchdowns, running back Shannon Woods scored another TD, and kicker Alex Trlica hit the game-tying 52-yard field goal as time expired in regulation. Gophers QB Bryan Cupito led a drive capped off by a Joel Monroe field goal. Shannon Woods ended the game with a 3-yard rushing touchdown to complete the thrilling comeback..
In the 2016 Valero Alamo Bowl, the TCU Horned Frogs tied the aforementioned Texas Tech Red Raiders for the largest comeback in NCAA Division 1-A Bowl Game history. The Oregon Ducks led 31–0 at halftime. The Ducks' star quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. left the game with an injury. TCU backup QB Bram Kohlhausen led an unbelievable 31-point second half to tie the game. The Frogs ended up winning the game 47–41 in 3OT after the Ducks failed to convert on 4th Down.
In Super Bowl LI, the New England Patriots came back from a 28–3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter, winning the game in overtime 34–28. The Patriots 25 point comeback was the largest in Super Bowl history.
Association football
The ability for a comeback to occur in association football is limited by the game clock.A notable example of such a comeback is Charlton Athletic F.C. 7–6 Huddersfield Town A.F.C., 21 December 1957. With 27 minutes left, Charlton were losing 5–1 and down to ten men. However, they scored six more goals to win 7–6.
An example of a record breaking come back is FC Barcelona against Paris Saint-Germain F.C in the Champions league Round of 16 on March 8, 2017 at Camp Nou, Barcelona. It was the first time that a team in UEFA Champions League history a team had overcome a four-goal deficit in order to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Baseball
In baseball, a comeback is theoretically possible at any point in the game up until the event that ends the game itself. There are no time constraints that would prevent a team from using its very last opportunity for play to score enough consecutive runs to win the game.In terms of individual games, on three occasions in Major League Baseball history, a team has come back from being twelve runs down to win the game:
- June 18, 1911, the Detroit Tigers overcame a 12-run deficit against the Chicago White Sox.
- June 15, 1925, the Philadelphia Athletics overcame a 12-run deficit against the Cleveland Indians.
- August 5, 2001, the Cleveland Indians overcame a 12-run deficit against the Seattle Mariners, winning 15–14 in the 11th inning.
Basketball
A team may have a second-half comeback after having fallen well behind in the first half, or a fourth-quarter comeback after having fallen well behind with only one quarter of play remaining.The greatest comeback in National Basketball Association play occurred on November 27, 1996, when the Utah Jazz, down by 36 points to the Denver Nuggets late in the second quarter, overcame this deficit to win 107–103.. In the 2019 NBA playoffs the Los Angeles Clippers trailed by 31 points, before overcoming the Golden State Warriors 135–131.
The greatest comeback in NCAA Division I history occurred on February 22, 2018 when Drexel overcame a 34-point deficit against Delaware. This surpassed the previous record, a February 1994 game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Louisiana State University Tigers, in which the Wildcats were down by 31 points, but came back to win 99–95. In the Philippines, the San Miguel Beermen became the first basketball team in history to ever win a best-of-7 title series from 0-3 down after beating Alaska Aces in Game 7 of the 2015–16 PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
NCAA
End of period
These comebacks happened at the end of regulation or the end of an overtime period in a short amount of time:| Date | Comeback By | Leader | Deficit | Time Remaining | Eventual Winner | Final Score |
| 01/08/2017 | Nevada | New Mexico | 14 | 1:03 | Nevada | 105–104 |
| 03/20/2016 | Texas A&M | Northern Iowa | 12 | 0:34 | Texas A&M | 92–88 |
| 03/01/2018 | Virginia | Louisville | 4 | 0:00.9 | Virginia | 67-66 |
Long comebacks
These comebacks happened over a longer stretch of the game:| Date | Comeback By | Leader | Deficit | Time Remaining | Eventual Winner | Final Score |
| 02/22/2018 | Drexel | Delaware | 34 | 22:35 | Drexel | 85–83 |
| 02/15/1994 | Kentucky | LSU | 31 | 15:34 | Kentucky | 99–95 |
| 02/17/2018 | Michigan State | Northwestern | 27 | 24:13 | Michigan State | 65–60 |
| 03/13/2012 | BYU | Iona | 25 | 24:03 | BYU | 78–72 |
| 02/12/2019 | Duke | Louisville | 23 | 9:04 | Duke | 71–69 |
In the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, both games of the March 13 session set NCAA postseason records, for largest deficit overcome within the final five minutes of a game and largest deficit at any point in the game overcome.
NBA
The following comebacks are based solely on a points deficit basis:Regular season
36 points — Utah Jazz vs. Denver NuggetsThe Utah Jazz defeated the Denver Nuggets 107 to 103 on November 27, 1996. The Jazz, playing before a hometown crowd at the Delta Center, trailed 70 to 36 at halftime. Led by the scoring efforts of Karl Malone with 31 points and Jeff Hornacek contributing 29 points, the Utah Jazz secured the win to overcome one of the largest deficits in NBA history.
35 points — Sacramento Kings vs. Chicago Bulls
The Sacramento Kings defeated the Chicago Bulls 102-98 on December 21, 2009 at Chicago's United Center. Trailing three quarters, with the largest deficit at 35 points, the Kings rallied behind the scoring of Tyreke Evans' 23 points. Sacramento overcame the Bulls in the fourth quarter despite a 26-point performance of Chicago's Luol Deng. This comeback constitutes the second largest comeback in NBA history.
They were down by as high as 35 points with less than 9 minutes remaining in the third quarter. But despite trailing for almost three quarters, they fought their way back and beat Chicago Bulls by four points.
30 points — Toronto Raptors vs. Dallas Mavericks
The Raptors were down 85–55 with 2:55 to go in the 3rd quarter. The Raptors then scored 47 points in the 4th quarter to win 110–107, led by Kyle Lowry who scored 20 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter.
30 points — Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers were down 30 in the 3rd quarter and trailing by 27 entering the 4th. On the back of 21 points from Kobe Bryant, the Lakers came back to win 105–103. Fittingly, Bryant scored with 8.4 seconds remaining, giving the Lakers their first lead of the game and held on for the win.
29 points — Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks
The fifth largest NBA comeback occurred at Atlanta's Omni Coliseum on November 25, 1977. The Milwaukee Bucks, down 29 points to the Atlanta Hawks, came back to win 117–115. This game is the largest fourth quarter comeback in NBA history. Milwaukee's Junior Bridgerman led the comeback effort with 24 points and held off Atlanta's high scorer John Drew with 30 points on the night.
29 points — Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 107 to 100 on December 30, 2008 to overcome a 29-point third quarter deficit. Jason Terry led all Mavericks scorers with 29 points while Dirk Nowitzki added 24 points. The game was played at Dallas' American Airlines Center.
28 points - Portland Trail Blazers vs. Sacramento Kings
The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings from a 28-point deficit on April 10, 2019 at home court. They were down by 28 when the second quarter left 30s. 136-131 was the final score
28 points - Sacramento Kings vs. Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Sacramento Kings from a 28-point deficit on March 19, 2019 at the Golden1 Center. D'Angelo Russell scored 27 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Nets to win. And he set a new career-high of 44 points in the game. 121-123 is the official score.
28 points — Los Angeles Clippers vs. Boston Celtics
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Boston Celtics on February 9, 2019 to overcome a 28-point deficit at the TD Garden. Montrezl Harell led the Clippers in scoring with 21 points in the comeback effort. Kyrie Irving sprained his ankle with 4:09 left in the 2nd quarter and exited the game with 2:28 left in the quarter.
27 points — Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
At Quicken Loans Arena, the Miami Heat overcame at the time league high 27-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-95 and extend their winning streak to 24 games.
27 points — Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors
At Oracle Arena in Oakland, the visiting Toronto Raptors held a 75–48 advantage over the Golden State Warriors with just over 9 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Led by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors outscored Toronto 64–28 in the final 21:20 by means of tremendous 3-point shooting to come away with a 112–103 win at home.
Post-season
31 points - Los Angeles Clippers vs Golden State WarriorsThe Los Angeles Clippers trailed 94–63 with 7:31 left in the 3rd quarter as Stephen Curry was benched for his 4th foul of the game. The Clippers cut it down to as much as 2 mid-way through the 4th quarter. Landry Shamet made a game winning 3 pointer with 15.9 seconds left to give the Clippers a 133–131 lead. Lou Williams led the Clippers with 36 points in the comeback effort as Montrezl Harrell helped with 25 points as the 2nd leading scorer of the game and hit 2 free throws to seal the game. The Clippers won the game 135–131 in the comeback effort. This is the biggest comeback in NBA playoffs history.
29 points - Los Angeles Lakers vs Seattle Supersonics
Trailing 41-12 early in the second quarter, the Lakers mounted a comeback that cut the Supersonics' lead to 54-43 by half-time, 73-65 by the end of the 3rd quarter, and finally won the game 97–95.
27 points - Los Angeles Clippers vs Memphis Grizzlies
26 points - Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers
Trailing by as much as 26, the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 25-point half-time deficit, to take a commanding 3-0 First Round series lead over the Indiana Pacers and further fuel what would become a historic 10-game playoff win-streak. The 26-point comeback tied the largest ever in NBA post-season history, with LeBron James scoring 41 points and a triple-double in another career night performance.
25 points - Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs
The Golden State Warriors came back from a 25-point deficit, led by Steph Curry's 40 points and Kevin Durant's 34 points. Curry led the team with 7 made threes and 14 made field goals. Precipitating the comeback was the injury of the Spurs' first option, Kawhi Leonard. The Warriors won 113–111.
25 points - Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Utah Jazz
The Oklahoma City Thunder erased a 25-point comeback in the third quarter of the NBA first round against the Utah Jazz. Russell Westbrook's 45 points and Paul George's 34 points saved the Thunder from elimination to force a Game 6.
Ice hockey
The ability for a comeback to occur in ice hockey is limited by the game clock.NHL
Regular season
The following regular season comebacks are the largest in NHL history, with each team having won after trailing by five goals:- On February 25, 1983 the Boston Bruins led the Buffalo Sabres 6–1 with 14:03 left in the second period. The Sabres then scored six unanswered goals to win 7–6.
- On January 21, 1985, the Los Angeles Kings led the Edmonton Oilers 7–2 with 1:28 remaining in the second period. The Oilers then scored six unanswered goals to win 8–7.
- On January 26, 1987, the Calgary Flames erased a 5–0 deficit against the Toronto Maple Leafs, starting with a goal by Steve Bozek with only 13:58 remaining in the third period. To date, it is the largest comeback with the least amount of time remaining in NHL history.
- On December 30, 1989, the Toronto Maple Leafs were down 6–1 to the Boston Bruins, coming back with six unanswered goals to defeat the Bruins 7–6 in overtime. The comeback began on a Vincent Damphousse goal with 1:05 left in the second period.
- On December 26, 1991, the New York Rangers came back from a five-goal deficit against Washington Capitals, winning 8–6. The Rangers began the comeback on a goal by John Ogrodnick with one-tenth of a second left in the first period.
- On March 3, 1999, the Colorado Avalanche came back from five goals down against the Florida Panthers, winning the game 7–5. The Avalanche scored seven goals in the final 22 minutes, with Peter Forsberg leading the way with three goals and three assists.
- On November 29, 2000, the St. Louis Blues came back from a five-goal deficit against the Toronto Maple Leafs, winning 6–5 in overtime. The Maple Leafs led 5–0 with 15:09 remaining in the third period.
- On February 19, 2008, Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Rangers 6–5 in a shootout, having rallied down 5–0. Michael Ryder scored to begin the comeback with 12:32 left in the second period.
- On October 12, 2009, the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Calgary Flames 6–5 in overtime, capping a five-goal comeback after being down 5–0. John Madden scored with 2:18 left in the first period to begin the comeback.
Playoffs
- On April 10, 1982, the Los Angeles Kings trailed the heavily-favored Edmonton Oilers 5–0 going into the third period of play in Game 3 of a best-of-five series. The Kings rallied to score 5 unanswered goals in the third period, and won the game 6–5 in overtime on a goal by Daryl Evans. The game was dubbed the Miracle on Manchester, referring to the Kings arena, The Forum, on Manchester Boulevard, and remains the largest single-game comeback in NHL playoff history.
See also: List of teams to overcome 3–0 series deficits
Motorsport
In the 1985 Winston 500, Bill Elliott's car suffered a broken oil fitting and nearly went two laps off of the pace. Elliott was able to make up the near two lap difference without the aid of a caution flag or the draft, winning the race by over a second.In the 1995 Indianapolis 500, Jacques Villeneuve overtook the pace car by mistake and was penalized with two laps, but recovered and won the race.
Tennis
In professional tennis, the match goes to the first player to win a predetermined number of sets, usually two or three in professional tournaments. There have been numerous instances of a player being down one or two sets to none, and coming back to win the remaining sets in a row to win the match. It is theoretically possible for a player to come back from a deficit at any point in the game.In the 1987 Wimbledon Championships, Jimmy Connors faced Mikael Pernfors in the fourth round. Connors lost the first two sets and was down 4–1 in the third set before taking 14 straight points and winning the set. Pernfors then took a 3–0 lead in the fourth set, but Connors subsequently broke Pernfors twice to win the fourth set. Connors then won the fifth and deciding set to win the match.
In the 1999 French Open final between Andre Agassi and Andrei Medvedev, Medvedev dominated the first two sets before Agassi mounted a come-from-behind victory, winning the remaining three sets which allowed him to complete a career Grand Slam.
Track and field
In the 10,000 metres at the 1972 Summer Olympics at Munich, runner Lasse Virén fell in the twelfth lap after getting tangled with Emiel Puttemans, with Tunisia's Mohamed Gammoudi also falling after being tripped by Viren's legs. Despite losing about 20 metres, Virén caught up with, and then outpaced, the pack, breaking Ron Clarke's 7-year-old world record with a time of 27:38:40Yacht racing
In the 2013 America's Cup, Oracle Team USA, fell behind the challenger Emirates Team New Zealand by a score of 8 races to 1. Oracle had to win the last eight consecutive races to come from behind and win the competition. This has been described as "possibly the greatest comeback in sports history".In the 2019 Roma per tutti yacht race O' Guerriero, a Comet 41S representing the CS Yacht Club, after falling behind more than 140 miles off the leader, came back to score the overall IRC victory for the second consecutive time becoming the third boat in the race history to achieve a back to back win.