stuporman wrote:I asked AI and this is what it told me...
"In NBA playoff history, across all rounds, there have been 463 series where a team took a 2-0 lead. Of those, only 34 teams have come back from an 0-2 deficit to win the series, resulting in a 7.3% success rate.[](
https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/only_73_of_nba_teams_have_recovered_from_a_0_2_deficit_in_the_playoffs_lakers_suns_and_76ers_in_trouble/s1_16751_40274821)
For series specifically **after the opening round** (i.e., Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and NBA Finals), the data is more limited but still insightful. According to a post on X, in the Conference Semifinals alone, there have been 117 instances of a team going down 0-2, with only 8 teams coming back to win, yielding a 6.8% success rate. Additionally, broader data from recent analyses indicates that comebacks from 0-2 deficits in later rounds are rare, with notable examples including the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals and the 2024 Indiana Pacers in the Conference Semifinals.
While exact numbers for all post-opening round series combined (Semifinals, Finals, and Conference Finals) are not explicitly detailed in the sources, the general trend suggests a slightly lower probability than the overall 7.3% due to the increased competitiveness in later rounds. Based on the Conference Semifinals data (6.8%) and the rarity of such comebacks in the Finals (only 5 instances in history, per), a reasonable estimate for series after the opening round would be approximately **6-7%**.
Thus, the percentage of NBA playoff series after the opening round where a team has come back from a 2-0 deficit to win is likely around **6-7%**. For a precise figure, further data on Conference Finals and Finals would be needed, but this range aligns with available evidence.[](
https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/only_73_of_nba_teams_have_recovered_from_a_0_2_deficit_in_the_playoffs_lakers_suns_and_76ers_in_trouble/s1_16751_40274821)"