When it comes to blown leads in the NBA, one of the most memorable in history is undoubtedly the one that transpired during the 2016 Western Conference Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder had a 3-1 series lead over the Golden State Warriors, and were on the brink of winning the series and advancing to the NBA Finals. However, the Thunder were unable to close out the series, and the Warriors went on to win the next three games, ultimately coming back from a 3-1 deficit and advancing to the NBA Finals.
The Thunder had a 3-1 lead in the series and had the opportunity to seal their victory in Game 5. The Thunder had a seven-point lead with less than four minutes remaining, yet the Warriors managed to make a miraculous comeback, outscoring the Thunder 11-2 to end the game. The Warriors then went on to win the next two games and advance to the NBA Finals.
The Thunder’s blown lead in the 2016 Western Conference Finals was especially heartbreaking for Oklahoma City, as they had been a perennial contender for the championship for several seasons prior to the 2016 campaign. The Thunder had won three division titles and made it to the Finals in 2012, but were never able to make it past the second round of the playoffs until 2016. With the addition of Kevin Durant in the 2016 offseason, it appeared that the Thunder were finally poised to make a serious run for the championship.
Unfortunately, the Thunder were unable to capitalize on their opportunity to advance to the NBA Finals and suffered a heartbreaking loss in the Western Conference Finals. The loss was especially difficult to swallow, as the Thunder had a 3-1 series lead and were in control of the series until the final minutes of Game 5. The Thunder’s blown lead in the 2016 Western Conference Finals will be remembered as one of the most memorable and heartbreaking losses in NBA history.
