I believe the saying goes, “down but not out.”
After trailing by as many as 35 points, the Clippers embodied that saying on Tuesday while earning a stunning comeback win over the Wizards.
With one minute and 20 seconds remaining in the first half, two free throws from Bradley Beal gave the Wizards a 66-31 lead, giving the team a 99.7 percent win probability. From that point, the Clippers outscored the Wizards 85-49 to escape Capital One Arena with a one-point victory in regulation.
The game’s final sequence is arguably just as wild as the comeback itself, as a logo-length 3-pointer from Luke Kennard cut the deficit to three points with 8.2 seconds remaining.
After the Wizards committed a five-second violation, the Clippers got the ball back, setting up a 4-point play from Kennard, which caused the Clippers’ broadcast crew — and veteran forward Nicolas Batum — to express their disbelief.
With the win, the Clippers completed their third comeback of 24 or more points this season. It also marked the largest comeback in franchise history and the second-largest comeback in NBA history.
Below, find more on the biggest rallies in the NBA’s 75-year history.
What are the biggest comebacks in NBA history?
| Date | Comeback By | Leader | Deficit | Final Score |
| Nov. 27, 1996 | Jazz | Nuggets | 36 | Jazz 107, Nuggets 103 |
| Jan. 25, 2022 | Clippers | Wizards | 35 | Clippers 116, Wizards 115 |
| Dec. 21, 2009 | Kings | Bulls | 35 | Kings 102, Bulls 98 |
| April 30, 2021 | Celtics | Spurs | 32 | Celtics 143, Spurs 140 (OT) |
| Nov. 28, 1975 | Warriors | Bucks | 31 | Warriors 106, Bucks 105 |