Context:

The NBA Playoffs have historically featured both thrilling comebacks and significant blowouts, with 29 games decided by a margin of 40 points or more. Notable among these is the largest victory margin of 58 points, achieved twice, most recently by the Denver Nuggets against the New Orleans Hornets in 2009. The 2025 playoffs included a 55-point win by the Cavaliers over the Heat and a 51-point victory by the Thunder over the Grizzlies, highlighting some of the recent lopsided games. These overwhelming defeats often stem from a combination of one team's off night and the opponent's exceptional performance. Despite the competitive nature of the playoffs, such blowouts remain memorable for their sheer dominance and unexpected margins.

Dive Deeper:

• NBA Playoffs have a history of both classic games and significant blowouts, with 29 instances of games decided by at least 40 points. This includes 12 in the first round, 10 in the semifinals, six in the conference finals, and one in the NBA Finals.

• The most substantial margin of victory in NBA Playoffs history is 58 points, recorded twice, including the Denver Nuggets' 121-63 victory over the New Orleans Hornets in the 2009 first round.

• The 2025 playoffs featured notable blowouts, such as the Cavaliers' 55-point win over the Heat and the Thunder's 51-point victory against the Grizzlies, ranking among the largest postseason defeats.

• These blowouts often occur when one team experiences an off night while their opponent delivers an exceptional performance, leading to games that quickly spiral out of control.

• Such lopsided losses are memorable not only for their sheer magnitude but also because they often mark unexpected turns in the competitive landscape of the NBA Playoffs.

• From furious finishes to thrilling comebacks, the NBA Playoffs have delivered countless classic games. While there have been many 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 quickly.

• Throughout the history of the NBA Playoffs, there have been 29 games decided by 40 or more points — 12 in the first round, 10 in the semifinals, six in the conference finals, and one in the NBA Finals.

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• 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.

• NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket

• What is the biggest blowout in NBA Playoffs history?

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

• Biggest blowouts in NBA Playoffs history

  Denver's 2009 win over New Orleans is one of seven 50-point victories in the NBA Playoffs. An additional three playoff games have been decided by 45 or more points.

• The Cavaliers completed a sweep of the Heat with a 55-point win in Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference first round. It's the fourth-biggest win in playoffs history and the biggest since the Thunder took care of the Grizzlies by 51 in Game 1 of the 2025 Western Conference first round.

• Rank	Year	Series	Game	Point Margin
  1.	2009	West First Round	Nuggets 121, Hornets 63	58
  	1956	West Semifinals	Lakers 133, Hawks 75	58
  3.	1973	West Finals	Lakers 126, Warriors 70	56
  4.	2025	East First Round	Cavaliers 128, Heat 73	55
  5.	2015	East First Round	Bulls 120, Bucks 66	54
  6.	2025	West First Round	Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80	51
  7.	1971	West Semifinals	Bucks 136, Warriors 86	50
  8.	1995	East First Round	Magic 124, Celtics 77	47
  	1986	West First Round	Lakers 135, Spurs 88	47
  10.	2024	West Second Round	Timberwolves 115, Nuggets 70	45
  11.	2017	East Finals	Cavaliers 130, Celtics 86	44
  	1997	West First Round	SuperSonics 122, Suns 78	44
  	1985	West Finals	Lakers 153, Nuggets 109	44
  	1958	West Finals	Hawks 145, Pistons 101	44
  15.	2025	West Second Round	Thunder 149, Nuggets 106	43
  	2020	West First Round	Clippers 154, Mavericks 111	43
  	2010	East Semifinals	Magic 114, Hawks 71	43
  	1987	East First Round	Pistons 128, Bullets 85	43
  	1984	West Semifinals	Lakers 134, Mavericks 91	43
  20.	1998	NBA Finals	Bulls 96, Jazz 54	42
  21.	2018	West Finals	Warriors 126, Rockets 85	41
  	1991	East First Round	Bulls 126, Knicks 85	41
  23.	2014	West First Round	Clippers 138, Warriors 98	40
  	2009	West Semifinals	Lakers 118, Rockets 78	40
  	2005	West First Round	Mavericks 116, Rockets 76	40
  	1983	West Semifinals	Spurs 145, Nuggets 105	40
  	1982	East Finals	Celtics 121, 76ers 81	40
  	1978	East Semifinals	76ers 130, Knicks 90	40
  	1969	West Semifinals	Lakers 118, Warriors 78	40