Game 1 NBA Home Losers Roaring Back

When examining NBA Conference Semifinal trends, one in particular stands out. Teams without home court advantage that win Game 1 on the road in the second-round have gone on to win the series 26 of 37 times in the history of the league. However, each of those 11 victories have come in the last decade.

Teams have also won the series after suffering a setback in the opening contest six times in the last seven years. That’s certainly going to appeal to fans and bettors of the Toronto Raptors in the wake of Miami’s series-opening road win at the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday.

If the Raps are going to even think about advancing to the next round, they’re going to need a much better performance from all-star point guard Kyle Lowry. Lowry went 3-for-13 from the field and 1-of-7 from downtown, finishing with seven points in an underwhelming effort.

Lowry’s struggles aren’t anything new. According to ESPN Stats and Info, Lowry has the worst field goal percentage in a single postseason in the last 50 years (30.6 percent). The Dinos became just the second squad ever to win a playoff series with their top two scorers shooting under 33 percent against the Indiana Pacers (DeMar DeRozan shot 31 percent in the first round).

Prior to 2006, squads in Toronto’s position would have been perceived as dead in the water. But the influx of bounce back wins in recent postseasons is certainly working in their favor.

Here’s a look at the teams that lost at home in Game 1 but went on to win the series in the past 10 years.