Entering Thursday night, no team had ever come back from a 25-point halftime deficit to win an NBA playoff game. LeBron James took care of that.
The Cavaliers trailed by as many as 26 points to the Pacers during Thursday's Game 3, but set a playoff record by coming all the way back to win the game, 119-114. The 26-point comeback tied the largest ever in NBA history (tied with the 2012 Clippers against the Memphis Grizzlies) and the 25-point halftime deficit was the largest ever overcome.
The @cavs 25 point halftime comeback is the largest in #NBAPlayoffs history. #DefendTheLand pic.twitter.com/eA7FEeG14t
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) April 21, 2017
#NBAPlayoffs Biggest comeback after halftime: 25 @cavs; Prev. mark: 21 Balt. Bullets trailed Philly @warriors 20-41 & won 66-63 (4/13/48) pic.twitter.com/VTwGqCswlZ
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) April 21, 2017
Cavs 26-point comeback ties the '12 Clips for greatest comeback in NBA Playoff history. Also, um, that's effectively the end of IND's season
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) April 21, 2017
The main cog in the Cavs' comeback was LeBron, who took over the game by sheer force in the third quarter, knocking down 3s, wreaking havoc on defense and throwing down one of the most vicious dunks of his career.
James finished with 41 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists on the historic night. He hasn't lost a first-round game since 2012 with the Heat.
