Basketball is a game of runs. From quarters one through three, those runs and the subsequent responses from opposing teams set the stage for the deciding final 12 minutes of play. For today’s list, we wanted to highlight the biggest and best comeback wins this season when trailing going into the fourth quarter.
The Hawks complete 22-point 4th-quarter comeback vs. Suns, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker scoring 16 in the period.
Nov. 16: Hawks vs. Suns – 18 points
During their last of a four-game road trip out west, Atlanta capped off a sensational 4-0 stretch by overcoming an 18-point deficit entering the final frame in Phoenix. The Suns pushed their cushion to 22 and managed to keep it that way over the first few minutes of the quarter, but Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who finished with 26 points (9-18 FG) and a game-best +22 across 35 minutes, willed his Hawks to a dramatic victory. ‘NAW’ dropped 16 points on 5-for-8 shooting while playing the entire period, and Dyson Daniels chipped in nine of his 11 total points on 4-for-4 shooting to go along with three rebounds (all offensive) and three assists. The Hawks outscored the Suns 47-27 in the fourth to seal the 124-122 win. Dillon Brooks (game-high 34 pts) and Devin Booker (27 pts; 13 in 4Q) accounted for half of their squad’s points in the defeat.
Dec. 18: Pelicans vs. Rockets – 16 points
Back in mid-December, New Orleans jumped out to an early six-point edge midway through the opening quarter against Houston, but it went downhill in a hurry for the home team. From there, the Rockets took off, not trailing again until overtime and leading by as many as 25 during the opening minutes of the second half. The Pelicans scrapped and clawed their way back to a 16-point deficit entering the fourth, where Saddiq Bey scored 11 of his season-high 29 points to tie things at 119 at the end of regulation. Bey added six more on 2-for-3 shooting and sank the game-sealing free throws with two seconds remaining in OT, lifting NOLA to a 133-128 victory. Trey Murphy III had 27 points and Herbert Jones tallied 18 points and a career-best eight steals for the Pels, while Kevin Durant posted a game-high 32 points (12-15 FG) and four blocks.
Philadelphia climbs from a 16-point deficit to force OT and scores a 139-134 win in Washington behind Tyrese Maxey's heroics.
Oct. 28: 76ers vs. Wizards – 16 points
Similar to the Pelicans’ comeback above, Philadelphia started this contest on the right foot, but Washington stormed back to go in front by 19 in the third quarter. The Sixers brought it down to 16 going into the final frame, where Tyrese Maxey and Quentin Grimes went into takeover mode. Maxey, after going scoreless in the third, erupted for 14 of his game-high 39 points in the fourth, while Grimes (23 pts) did a bit of everything with 12 points (5-8 FG, 2-3 3PM), three rebounds, two blocks, one dime and one steal to help send it to OT. In extra time, Maxey scored nine of the Sixers’ 13 points to complete their comeback, winning 139-134. Eight Wizards scored in double figures in the loss, led by Alex Sarr with 31 points (13-23 FG), 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks.
Dec. 12: Cavaliers vs. Wizards – 15 points
The Cavs and Wizards went back and forth during the first half of their meeting in the nation’s capital before Washington outscored the visitors 40-23 in the third quarter. They led by as many as 17 in the second half and 15 heading into the fourth, powered by a 39-13 advantage in bench scoring. Cleveland called upon their superstar guard, Donovan Mitchell, who promptly delivered down the stretch. ‘Spida’ caught fire over the final 10:22 of the contest, pouring in 24 of his game-high 48 points on 8-for-14 shooting with four made 3s to secure a 130-126 win. Evan Mobley added 23 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Cavs, while Bub Carrington and CJ McCollum each had 27 points to pace the Wizards.
Jan. 11: Timberwolves vs. Spurs – 14 points
Earlier in January, Minnesota stunned San Antonio in a thrilling 104-103 comeback victory on Anthony Edwards’ bank-in go-ahead runner with 16.8 seconds remaining. The Spurs, who held a 19-point lead on two occasions in the third and a 14-point edge going to the fourth, never trailed until the final four minutes after catapulting to a 16-0 advantage in the opening frame. Naz Reid fueled the win by dropping 17 points, 11 boards, two steals and a block with a game-best +23 in 31 minutes off the Wolves’ bench. Edwards cooked for nine of his 23 points across eight minutes of action in the final quarter, including his clutch game-winner on an incredible angle while matched up against Victor Wembanyama (29 pts). Donte DiVincenzo finished with 19 points (7-16 FG, 5-12 3PM), nine rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block.
