The NBA playoffs are already interesting, but when you add Game 7 to the mix, it gets even more interesting. The league has held plenty of these games over the years, but there's no doubt that some have made a bigger impact than others.
That's why today we're going to take a look at the best playoff games of all time, and more specifically, the best Sevens game of all time. With all the games that have taken place over the years, it's hard to find the best Game 7 in NBA history. However, this is our top 10 on this great topic.
1988 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals
We start this list with one of the most memorable games in Boston Celtics history. The C's used to dominate the Eastern Conference every year, which drove opponents crazy and made them fight hard to take down the Greens.
The Atlanta Hawks were one of those teams, and they came close to beating the Celtics in 1988 behind the performance of Dominique Wilkins. However, his 47 points in this seventh game were not enough against Larry Bird and company, who ended up winning 118-116.
1970 NBA Finals
This game is a big surprise after everything that happened before it started. Willis Reed inspired his team to a huge win over the Wilt Chamberlain-led Los Angeles Lakers. Reed was dealing with a groin injury early in the series, but that didn't stop him from facing Chamberlain during this match.
Reed scored the first four points of the game, sealing the Knicks' victory and leading them to a 113-99 victory to secure the NBA championship.
2010 NBA Finals
The 2010 NBA Finals saw the league's biggest rivals in another duel for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. This was not a smooth game on the offensive side of the ball, but it was a tough duel won in the trenches.
The Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, pushed hard to defeat the Celtics and avenge their loss in the 2008 finals. In the end, they emerged victorious with a score of 83-79 to win the Lakers’ sixteenth championship.
2015 NBA Western Conference First Round
It's not common to see first-round matches make it to these lists, but this match was great for several reasons. The veteran San Antonio Spurs faced off against a Los Angeles Clippers team hungry for a chance to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
This series has been incredibly entertaining since the first game. They exchanged victories until the final match, which was held in Los Angeles. After a great game, the Clippers advanced to the next round, where Chris Paul left it all at the end of the series.
2002 Western Conference Finals
During the early 2000s, it was difficult to find a team that could compete against the Los Angeles Lakers. That changed when the Sacramento Kings came out and tried to take down the purple and gold to advance to the NBA Finals.
Amid controversial games, the Lakers came back from a 3-2 deficit, defeating the Kings in an entertaining Game 7 that sent them to their third straight appearance in the NBA Finals.
1998 NBA Eastern Conference Finals
The Chicago Bulls of the 1990s didn't play many seventh games, but one of them was absolutely memorable for fans and neutral viewers. The Indiana Pacers have been eager to take down Michael Jordan and company, and this appears to be their best chance to do so.
Although their defense was incredibly good against Jordan and Scottie Pippen, the Pacers were unable to stop the Bulls, wasting a huge opportunity in a tight game that ended up going on Chicago's way to complete their second win in eight years. .
2006 Western Conference semifinals
During the 2000s, a major rivalry developed between the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. Their playoff duels elevated this rivalry and this game was perhaps the cherry on top. With the Mavs taking a big lead early in the game against the Spurs threatening to come back and steal the win, that Game 7 had everything fans could ask for.
Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan fought in a duel, which the German star won to lead his team to the Western Conference Finals and then the NBA Finals.
2019 NBA East Semifinals
This is certainly a contender to be considered the best Game 7 in NBA history. The Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers starred in a very entertaining series that stayed that way until the end.
A thrilling Game 7 in Toronto saw Kawhi Leonard hit the game-winning shot to send the Sixers home and the Raptors to the Eastern Conference finals. To this day, this game is still remembered among NBA fans and that is not going to change anytime soon.
2013 NBA Finals
The 2013 NBA Finals are one of the most entertaining series in recent history. The Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs were eager to win the title that year and did not stop until one team was crowned champion.
After a dramatic Game 6, both teams were ready to battle it out in Miami to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy. In a tough game, the Heat beat the Spurs to win their second consecutive NBA Championship.
2016 NBA Finals
It doesn't get any better than this, as the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers played this game not only for glory but also to make NBA history.
After losing 3-1, the Cavaliers fought hard to force a Game 7, and once they got there, there was no turning back. Led by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers made a historic comeback, winning the championship after a remarkable game filled with power plays that saw Cleveland win its first professional championship in a long time.
