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The heartbreak list

Belt games decided by 3 points or less

1,277 belt games have come down to 3 points or less. These are the franchises who got closest without taking it, and the holders who survived by a whisker.

So close: challengers

Lost a belt game by 3 or less

Sacramento Kings53
Boston Celtics45
Philadelphia 76ers44
Detroit Pistons42
New York Knicks41
Los Angeles Lakers41
Golden State Warriors38
Atlanta Hawks33
Washington Wizards27
Milwaukee Bucks26
Cleveland Cavaliers23
Chicago Bulls22

Lost it by a whisker

Holders beaten by 3 or less

Boston Celtics61
Los Angeles Lakers51
New York Knicks43
Philadelphia 76ers38
Golden State Warriors33
Atlanta Hawks33
Sacramento Kings30
Milwaukee Bucks27
Washington Wizards26
Detroit Pistons24
Chicago Bulls20
Phoenix Suns17

Escape artists

Holders who defended by 3 or less

Boston Celtics75
Los Angeles Lakers68
Philadelphia 76ers47
New York Knicks39
Golden State Warriors39
Atlanta Hawks36
Detroit Pistons34
Sacramento Kings33
Miami Heat24
San Antonio Spurs22
Houston Rockets21
Milwaukee Bucks19

Latest nail-biters

Jun 10, 2026New York Knicks beat San Antonio Spurs 107–106Title change
Jun 5, 2026New York Knicks beat San Antonio Spurs 105–104Defense
Apr 14, 2026Charlotte Hornets beat Miami Heat 127–126 (OT)Defense
Apr 6, 2026New York Knicks beat Atlanta Hawks 108–105Title change
Mar 12, 2026Oklahoma City Thunder beat Boston Celtics 104–102Defense
Mar 9, 2026Oklahoma City Thunder beat Denver Nuggets 129–126Defense
Mar 4, 2026Oklahoma City Thunder beat New York Knicks 103–100Title change
Feb 25, 2026San Antonio Spurs beat Toronto Raptors 110–107Defense
Jan 25, 2026Toronto Raptors beat Oklahoma City Thunder 103–101Defense
Jan 7, 2026Portland Trail Blazers beat Houston Rockets 103–102Title change
Jan 5, 2026Houston Rockets beat Phoenix Suns 100–97Title change
Jan 4, 2026Phoenix Suns beat Oklahoma City Thunder 108–105Title change
Dec 18, 2025New York Knicks beat Indiana Pacers 114–113Defense
Nov 26, 2025Toronto Raptors beat Indiana Pacers 97–95Defense
Nov 17, 2025Toronto Raptors beat Charlotte Hornets 110–108Defense
Nov 10, 2025Miami Heat beat Cleveland Cavaliers 140–138 (OT)Defense
Nov 5, 2025Portland Trail Blazers beat Oklahoma City Thunder 121–119Title change
Oct 21, 2025Oklahoma City Thunder beat Houston Rockets 125–124 (2OT)Defense
Jun 5, 2025Indiana Pacers beat Oklahoma City Thunder 111–110Defense
May 21, 2025Indiana Pacers beat New York Knicks 138–135Defense
May 6, 2025Indiana Pacers beat Cleveland Cavaliers 120–119Defense
Apr 29, 2025Indiana Pacers beat Milwaukee Bucks 119–118Defense
Mar 29, 2025Dallas Mavericks beat Chicago Bulls 120–119Title change
Mar 27, 2025Chicago Bulls beat Los Angeles Lakers 119–117Title change
Mar 26, 2025Los Angeles Lakers beat Indiana Pacers 120–119Title change

Know the second a belt changes hands

One email per title change. Nothing else.