The Comeback That Was

November 27th was a typical Wednesday in 1996: as typical as any day-before-Thanksgiving could be in the NBA.  The recipient of what was about to be the greatest gift in the NBA [in terms of comeback from the largest deficit] was a cast of part-time-Mormon characters led by Johnny Stockton, Jeff Hornacek, Karlicious Malone, and KBA-favorite Greg Ostertag.

After building a 36-point lead just before the halftime buzzer, the Bryant Stith-led Denver Nuggets and their new coach (Dick Motta; who had just replaced future Lakers coaching legend Bernie Bickerstaff after a mid-season firing) must have felt on top of the world, looking down on future Ajax FCVH coach, Jerry Sloan.

But, nay!  For what unfolded was the greatest comeback in NBA history: the Jazz erased a 36-point lead and won 107-103.

Fast forward to July 9th, 2013: a typical Tuesday at the KBA.  After some entertaining, yet grueling, games NVE and BSR were teamed up in a pivotal 5th match-up vs. Ricky F having split their first four games, 2-2.

After what was mostly a dominant 4-2 performance on the night, NVE and BSR's brigade had stumbled to a 2-2 draw against Ricky F.

This critical 5th game would decide more than just the outcome of a single game.

Ricky F's energized bunch jumped out to a commanding 18-10 lead.

Here is where the math comes in....

Say the typical NBA team scores 100 points per game.
Hence, in the KBA that night, the 21 point decision would equate to approximately 4.76 NBA points per KBA point.
Thus, an 18-10 lead would be pro-rated to an approximate 86 - 48 NBA lead.

The difference: 38 points.

That is what stood between NVE, BSR, Wah-Qaeda, Vujacician, Small Game James and the record books.

And with the sweet, swift strike of their proverbial big sticks, the underdogs turned the tide.  Defensive stop after defensive stop.  Rebound after rebound.  "No Threes!" cries after "No Threes!" cries carved out a spot in not only the KBA record books.... but July 9th, 2013 supplanted November 27th, 1996 as the night that witnessed the greatest comeback in NBA* history, capped by a 52-0 run, winning 100-86!

*Definition of "NBA" may vary depending on reader.