Biggest blowouts in NBA Playoffs history: Complete list of largest postseason losses

Gilbert McGregor

Biggest blowouts in NBA Playoffs history: Complete list of largest postseason losses image

From furious finishes to thrilling comebacks, the NBA Playoffs have delivered countless classic games. While there have been a number of unforgettable classics, there have also been some lopsided duds that the losing team hopes everyone would forget immediately.

The best of the best advance to the playoffs, but in a make-or-miss league like the NBA, sometimes it's just not your night — even if you're a defending champ. Pair an off night with a red-hot performance from your opponent, and you have the formula for a game that gets out of hand pretty quickly.

Throughout the history of the NBA Playoffs, there have been 26 games decided by 40 or more points — 10 in the first round, nine in the semifinals, six in the conference finals, and one in the NBA Finals.

What are the largest wins in NBA Playoffs history? From a 58-point shellacking in 2009 to an unlikely 42-point blowout in the NBA Finals, here's a list of the most lopsided losses in the NBA's postseason.

MORE: Dates, times, TV channels for every 2023 NBA Playoffs game

Biggest blowouts in NBA Playoffs history

The largest margin of victory in NBA Playoffs history is 58, which was done twice. Most recently, the Denver Nuggets earned a 121-63 win over the New Orleans Hornets in Game 4 of the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs.

The Timberwolves took care of the Nuggets by 45 in Game 6 of the 2024 Western Conference semifinals, staving off elimination in the process. It marked the eighth-biggest blowout in NBA postseason history, and the biggest since the Clippers beat the Mavs 154-111 in the first round of the 2020 Western Conference playoffs.

RankYearSeriesGamePoint Margin
1.2009West First RoundNuggets 121, Hornets 6358
 1956West SemifinalsLakers 133, Hawks 7558
3.1973West FinalsLakers 126, Warriors 7056
4.2015East First RoundBulls 120, Bucks 6654
5.1971West SemifinalsBucks 136, Warriors 8650
6.1995East First RoundMagic 124, Celtics 7747
 1986West First RoundLakers 135, Spurs 8847
8.2024West Second RoundTimberwolves 115, Nuggets 7045
9.2017East FinalsCavaliers 130, Celtics 8644
 1997West First RoundSuperSonics 122, Suns 7844
 1985West FinalsLakers 153, Nuggets 10944
 1958West FinalsHawks 145, Pistons 10144
13.2020West First RoundClippers 154, Mavericks 11143
 2010East SemifinalsMagic 114, Hawks 7143
 1987East First RoundPistons 128, Bullets 8543
 1984West SemifinalsLakers 134, Mavericks 9143
17.1998NBA FinalsBulls 96, Jazz 5442
18.2018West FinalsWarriors 126, Rockets 8541
 1991East First RoundBulls 126, Knicks 8541
20.2014West First RoundClippers 138, Warriors 9840
 2009West SemifinalsLakers 118, Rockets 7840
 2005West First RoundMavericks 116, Rockets 7640
 1983West SemifinalsSpurs 145, Nuggets 10540
 1982East FinalsCeltics 121, 76ers 8140
 1978East Semifinals76ers 130, Knicks 9040
 1969West SemifinalsLakers 118, Warriors 7840

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.