The NBA Playoffs have produced some unforgettable moments over the decades, but few have been as dominant as the performance turned in by the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 2 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals. Facing off against the Boston Celtics, the Cavaliers entered halftime with a staggering 72–31 lead—a 41-point margin that remains the largest halftime lead in NBA playoff history.
Cleveland’s explosive first half saw them completely overwhelm Boston, both offensively and defensively. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love led a relentless attack that left the Celtics stunned and unable to respond. The Cavaliers ultimately won the game 130–86, further cementing their dominance in that series.
While this stands as the playoff record, the largest halftime lead in NBA regular-season history belongs to the Dallas Mavericks, who led the Los Angeles Clippers 77–27 at the half on December 27, 2020—a 50-point gap that shocked fans and analysts alike. The Mavericks went on to win the game by 51 points.
Most recently, during the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder made headlines by taking a 32-point halftime lead (68–36) over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of their first-round series. While not a record, this performance marked the largest halftime lead in Thunder playoff history, and the biggest first-half lead in any Game 1 since the league began tracking play-by-play data in 1996–97.
As the playoffs continue each year, dominant first-half performances remain a crucial factor in postseason success—but none have yet surpassed the Cavaliers’ historic 41-point halftime blitz of 2017.