With Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals mere hours away at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, basketball is poised for yet another historic moment. Since 2016, when LeBron James delivered a legendary chase-down block and Kyrie Irving hit the title-sealing three, no Finals series has reached a winner-take-all showdown. Tonight, we will witness a new chapter between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers.
Just 19 times in NBA history have Finals reached Game 7, but when they do, they burn into our collective memory. From Willis Reed’s defiant return in 1970 to Kobe Bryant's slugfest in 2010 and LeBron-Kyrie’s dominance in 2016, each Game 7 has its own share of incredible moments. We will have our 20th Game 7 tonight, and we hope it's a good one.
With home-court advantage set to go to the Thunder and some elite superstars such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Williams, and Tyrese Haliburton sharing the stage, Game 7 2025 promises to make NBA history again. Let's dive through the 10 greatest Game 7s in Finals history.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors - 2016 NBA Finals
LeBron’s performance in this epic Game 7 remains one of the greatest in Finals history. He posted a historic triple-double: 27 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, adding 2 steals and 3 blocks in 47 minutes, the third triple-double ever in a Finals Game 7.
Cleveland overcame a 3-1 deficit to win 93-89, with LeBron leading all players in points, assists, steals, and blocks for the series, a rare all-around dominance. The defining moment came with “The Block”: with the score tied 89-89 and under two minutes left, LeBron chased down Andre Iguodala's layup attempt and rejected it at the rim.
Following that, Cleveland closed the game on a 51-40 edge in the second half, holding Golden State scoreless over the final 4:39, and ending with an epic Kyrie Irving game-winner over Stephen Curry. Despite Draymond Green’s herculean effort, 32 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, he fell just short of securing the championship for the Warriors.
The Cavaliers became the first NBA Finals team to overcome a 3-1 deficit and the first to win a Game 7 on the road since 1978. This victory ended Cleveland’s 52-year major pro‑sports title drought, immortalizing LeBron’s legacy.
2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics - 2010 NBA Finals
For hardcore NBA fans, this one was as ugly as it was epic. Fueled by legacy and rivalry, Game 7 in Boston turned into a grind. Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, delivering a vintage all-around performance to help seal an 83-79 win for the Lakers.
Pau Gasol matched the intensity with 19 points and 18 rebounds, dominating the frontcourt with size and composure under pressure. Late-game heroics defined this clash: Kobe’s clutch mid- and long-range jumpers, along with Gasol’s smart positioning, contained Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett’s closing surge for the Celtics, preserving L.A.’s slim lead.
The Lakers' defense held firm on Boston’s final possessions, sealing the championship with cold-blooded execution. This victory delivered L.A.’s 16th title, breaking Seattle’s grip on most championships and extending the storied Lakers-Celtics rivalry. It also affirmed Kobe’s place among the elite, earning his 5th ring and cementing the dynasty before passing the torch.
3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons - 1988 NBA Finals
Trailing 3-2, the Lakers answered the call in Game 7, beating the Detroit Pistons 108-105 on June 21, 1988. James Worthy delivered a signature performance, 36 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, earning Finals MVP honors for the only triple-double of his career.
Magic Johnson orchestrated the offense with 19 points and 14 assists, threading key passes and stabilizing the floor. The game typified “Showtime” flair: high-speed transitions, clutch buckets, and a frenetic final stretch that tested nerves until the buzzer.
This home Game 7 triumph snapped a Lakers drought in Finals deciding games, their first in Los Angeles since 1960, and solidified their back-to-back championships, affirming their 1980s dynasty.
4. Houston Rockets vs. New York Knicks - 1994 NBA Finals
The Houston Rockets rallied from a 3-2 deficit to defeat the New York Knicks 90-84 in Game 7 on June 22, 1994, securing their first NBA title. Hakeem Olajuwon dominated with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 blocks in 46 minutes, capping his Finals run with averages of 26.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game.
The series was low-scoring and physical. New York leaned heavily on John Starks and Patrick Ewing, but they faltered in the end. A famously poor shooting night from Starks (2-for-18 FG, 0-for-11 from three) helped swing momentum to Houston. Meanwhile, Olajuwon’s late-game defense and free throws sealed the deal.
Houston became the first team to win consecutive championships since the Lakers (2000-2002), cementing Hakeem’s legacy with consecutive MVPs and Finals MVPs. This marked a coronation for Olajuwon as the league’s premier two-way big man.
5. Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers - 1984 NBA Finals
In one of the fiercest rivalries ever, Boston topped L.A. 111-102 in Game 7 on June 12, 1984, avenging their loss four years earlier. Larry Bird delivered a vintage Finals performance (27.4 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.6 APG series average), guiding Boston in their cagey victory.
Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led a Laker resurgence late, but were outworked during key stretches. Boston's physicality, interior toughness, and execution on both ends overwhelmed the Lakers in crunch time. The game illustrated how permanently changed the rivalry had permanently changed since the Bird-Magic emergence.
The victory brought Boston its 15th NBA title and marked the final use of the 2-2-1-1-1 Finals format before temporary shifts in scheduling. It epitomized 1980s basketball and Bird’s dominance under pressure
6. Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers - 1962 NBA Finals
Boston eked out a 110-107 overtime win on April 18, 1962, securing their sixth straight championship and only the second Game 7 decided in OT to date. Celtics legend Bill Russell was a colossus: 30 points, 40 rebounds, 4 assists in 53 minutes, a record-setting Finals Game 7 performance.
On the Lakers’ side, Elgin Baylor pounded the board for 41 points, the second-highest-ever finals game total, while Jerry West added 35. The box score read like a highlight reel, but Boston’s relentless grit prevailed.
Russell’s dominance solidified his reputation as perhaps the greatest defensive and rebounding force in history and cemented the Celtics as an unstoppable dynasty in the 1960s.
7. New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers - 1970 NBA Finals
On May 8, 1970, Willis Reed, playing despite a torn thigh, limped onto the floor and sank the first two baskets of Game 7, inspiring the Knicks to a 113-99 win in New York. Though he scored just those two early points (for a total of 4 points and added 3 rebounds while holding Wilt Chamberlain to 21 points), his presence galvanized his teammates.
Walt “Clyde” Frazier then took over, exploding for 36 points, 19 assists, 7 rebounds, controlling the tempo, and delivering a masterclass in clutch play. The Knicks led comfortably by halftime and never looked back.
Reed earned Finals MVP honors, and the game was enshrined as a celebration of courage. The Knicks captured their first-ever NBA title, turning the arena into an iconic stage of triumph and legacy.
8. Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers - 1969 NBA Finals
Jerry West’s legendary Game 7 performance came despite the Lakers’ 108-106 loss on May 5, 1969. He posted 42 points (the highest mark in Game 7 history), 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, marking the first triple-double ever in a Finals deciding game, and earned Finals MVP despite being on the losing side.
The Lakers' stars West, Elgin Baylor, and Wilt Chamberlain, were expected to dominate, but Bill Russell’s Celtics upset the narrative through disciplined clutch defense and opportunistic scoring. West's herculean display remains a bittersweet emblem of individual greatness.
This crowned Boston’s 11th title in 13 years and cemented the rivalry’s lore. West became the only Finals MVP from a losing team, his epic yet futile effort forever intertwining excellence and heartbreak.
9. Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs - 2013 NBA Finals
LeBron delivered a vintage masterpiece in Miami’s 95-88 Game 7 win on June 20, 2013. He posted 37 points and 12 rebounds, including 5-for-10 from three and a flawless 8-for-8 from the foul line on 52.2% shooting overall. His mid-range pull‑up jumper with 28 seconds left effectively sealed the title and stifled any potential San Antonio rally.
Dwyane Wade boosted the Heat’s effort with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Shane Battier’s four threes provided vital spacing and momentum. Meanwhile, the Spurs’ final chance collapsed late: Tim Duncan missed a tough interior bucket and follow-up, giving Miami the possession and subsequently closing the game.
This win earned Miami its second straight NBA title, the first since the Lakers’ 2009, 2010 back-to-back feat, and marked Miami as the first team to defeat the Spurs in a Finals series. LeBron was named Finals MVP again, reinforcing his status as the era’s clutch performer.
10. San Antonio Spurs vs. Detroit Pistons - 2005 NBA Finals
In a clash defined by defense, San Antonio edged Detroit 81-74 in Game 7 on June 23, 2005, earning another title on the strength of elite shutdown schemes. Tim Duncan set the tone with a classic performance, 25 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, capping the series, averaging 20.6 points and 14.1 rebounds per game.
Spurs’ supporting cast delivered key plays down the stretch: Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker combined for timely buckets, with Brent Barry drilling a big three to maintain San Antonio's control. Detroit struggled offensively, failing to break 100 points in any game, including a paltry 74 in Game 7, a testament to San Antonio’s suffocating schemes.
The win marked the Spurs' third title in five years and the second of three championships with Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili, solidifying their dynasty. Duncan later reflected that it was his most “gratifying” championship, honoring the grind of that defensively gritty series.
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