The 20 Best Game 7s in NBA Playoff History

Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals ranks among the most famous in league history. The Cavaliers pulled off the first-ever comeback from a 3-1 deficit in Finals history against a Warriors team that had 73 wins to its credit, making the stakes enormous even before tip-off. LeBron James’s game-sealing block on Andre Iguodala, Kyrie Irving’s three-pointer at the buzzer, and Cleveland’s first NBA championship made that night an instant legend. 

The 1988 showdown between Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins remains one of the greatest individual matchups ever seen in a Game 7. Wilkins kept racking up points with impressive explosiveness, while Bird responded with a fourth quarter marked by almost brazen confidence. Boston came away with a 118–116 victory, but Atlanta pushed the defending Eastern Conference champions to the limit. 

The Lakers and the Trail Blazers treated fans to one of the most spectacular fourth-quarter comebacks in playoff history. Portland led by 15 points in the final quarter, and for a moment, it looked as though Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant might miss their first Finals together. Then the Lakers mounted a comeback, capped off by Kobe’s famous lob pass to Shaq, to the cheers of a frenzied Staples Center crowd. 

Kawhi Leonard’s shot against Philadelphia may be the most dramatic bounce in NBA history. That Game 7 was close, physical, and tense, with both teams fighting for every possession as if the ball owed them money. Then, Leonard’s jump shot from the corner bounced off the rim four times before finally falling in, propelling Toronto to the Finals and sending Philadelphia home in disbelief. 

Game 7 of the 2010 Finals was a hard-fought, unspectacular contest punctuated by numerous missed shots, which made it all the more intense. Kobe Bryant struggled from the field but battled on the boards, while Pau Gasol delivered one of the most impressive performances of his career. Los Angeles won 83–79, giving Kobe his fifth championship ring and allowing the Lakers to avenge their 2008 loss.

Game 7 of the 1969 Finals marked Bill Russell’s final appearance, with Wilt Chamberlain on the opposing team and banners hanging from the Forum’s rafters that would never celebrate a Lakers championship. Boston was seen as an aging dynasty, while Los Angeles had home-court advantage and a star-studded roster. The Celtics won 108–106, and Russell left the court as a champion one last time. 

Game 7 of the 1994 Finals was a hard-fought, low-scoring contest between Hakeem Olajuwon’s Rockets and Patrick Ewing’s Knicks. Houston won 90–84, giving the franchise its first championship title and capping off Olajuwon’s brilliant performance in the playoffs. John Starks had a disastrous night from the field after a string of stellar performances, which remains one of the most painful “what-ifs” in Knicks history. 

Game 7 of the 2006 Mavericks-Spurs series was a Texas showdown, marked by an intensity worthy of a championship final. Dirk Nowitzki forced overtime with a game-winning three-pointer after Manu Ginóbili had briefly given San Antonio the lead. Dallas ultimately prevailed 119–111, eliminating the defending champions and changing the way people viewed Nowitzki’s tenacity in the playoffs.

Game 7 of the 1984 Finals added another legendary chapter to the rivalry between the Celtics and the Lakers. Boston won 111–102 in a raucous and hostile Boston Garden, with Larry Bird sealing a series that helped define his rivalry with Magic Johnson. The game was marked by rough play, tension, and the feeling that the balance of power in the entire league was being decided on the court.

Game 7 of the 1970 Finals will forever be etched in people’s memories, as Willis Reed limped onto the court before tip-off and sent Madison Square Garden into a frenzy. Reed scored only a few baskets early in the game, but his presence gave the Knicks a momentum they never lost. Walt Frazier then delivered one of the greatest performances ever seen in a Game 7, finishing the game with 36 points and 19 assists. 

Game 7 of the 2021 Bucks-Nets Finals seemed to hinge on Kevin Durant’s shoe size. He made a spectacular shot late in the game to force overtime, but his toe touched the line, turning that three-pointer into a two-pointer. Milwaukee won in overtime, and that victory marked a decisive step toward Giannis Antetokounmpo’s first championship title. 

Even though Ray Allen’s famous shot in Game 6 had saved Miami, Game 7 still had to finish the job. LeBron James stepped up with 37 points, including a floater late in the game that helped seal the Heat’s second consecutive title. Tim Duncan had a chance near the basket late in the game and reacted with palpable frustration after missing his shot—a rare display of emotion from one of the calmest stars in history. 

The Rockets, the defending champions, were on the road against the Suns, who had backed them into a corner. Houston managed to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the series, and Mario Elie’s three-pointer from the corner went down in history as the “kiss of death.” That shot allowed the Rockets to embark on a winning streak in the playoffs that culminated in another championship title. 

Game 7 of the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals produced one of the most famous radio calls in basketball history: “Havlicek stole the ball! ” Boston was leading by just one point when John Havlicek deflected Hal Greer’s throw-in, securing the Celtics’ victory. That play immediately became an NBA legend and allowed Boston to extend its dynasty. 

Game 7 of the 2018 Finals between the Warriors and the Rockets will be remembered for Houston’s disastrous shooting streak. The Rockets missed 27 consecutive three-pointers. Golden State weathered the scare and advanced to the Finals, while Houston was left grappling with one of the most painful “what-ifs” of the modern era. 

LeBron James and Paul Pierce turned Game 7 of the 2008 Finals into a star-studded showdown filled with old-school energy. LeBron scored 45 points, Pierce responded with 41, and the Celtics won 97–92, continuing their march toward the title. Boston was the better team, but Cleveland had the best player on its roster, striking fear into the hearts of everyone in the arena. 

Game 7 of the 1993 Suns-SuperSonics series marked Charles Barkley’s only appearance in an NBA Finals. Barkley delivered an outstanding performance with 44 points and 24 rebounds, refusing to let Phoenix’s dream season end prematurely. Seattle never stopped fighting, but Barkley’s power and energy propelled the Suns to victory. 

Game 7 of the 2015 Rockets-Clippers series featured one of the most incredible comebacks of the decade. Houston appeared to be out of the series after Game 6 before a spectacular comeback reignited the series, and Game 7 sealed Los Angeles’ collapse. James Harden, Dwight Howard, and the Rockets continued their run, while the Clippers had to add another painful chapter to their playoff history. 

Jayson Tatum made Game 7 of the 2023 Celtics-76ers series his moment of glory. After a rough start to the series and with heavy pressure on Boston, Tatum exploded for 51 points, setting an NBA record for a Game 7. Philadelphia had another chance to turn the series around thanks to Joel Embiid and James Harden, but the game quickly slipped away from them in the second half. 

Game 7 of the 1957 Finals gave the Celtics their first championship title and helped launch the greatest dynasty in NBA history. Boston defeated St. Louis 125–123 after two overtimes, with rookie Bill Russell already making the kind of impact that would define the decade to come. Tommy Heinsohn scored 37 points, giving the Celtics yet another rookie hero on the biggest stage of all.