Since its opening in 1995, eleven game sevens have been played at the TD Garden , formerly known as FleetCenter and TD Banknorth Garden.
The Forum in Inglewood, California hosted eight game sevens when it was the home of the Los Angeles Lakers.
In the National Basketball Association (NBA), a game seven is the final game of a best-of-seven series in the NBA playoffs . Based on the playoffs format arrangement,[a] it is played in the venue of the team holding home-court advantage for the series. The necessity of a game seven is not known until the outcome of game six is determined, assuming that a series reaches that far. In other words, game seven is the only one in a series that is not guaranteed more than one game in advance. Due to the decisive nature of game sevens, they are often "played more conservatively" and receive more media and fan attention.[ 1]
The NBA Finals has always employed a best-of-seven series format. The Conference (or Division) Finals have used this format since 1958 ;[ 2] the Conference (or Division) Semifinals since 1968 ;[ 3] and the First Round since 2003 .[ 4] [ 5] During the 1947 and 1948 playoffs, in which teams from different divisions met each other in the opening rounds, the first-place teams from each division played a best-of-seven series against each other before one advanced to the league finals. The other teams in the playoffs competed against each other in three best-of-three series to determine the other spot in the finals.[ 6]
Since the inception of the NBA, 148 game sevens have been played. Of those, only six went into overtime, and one into double overtime. 37 game sevens have been won by the road team.[ 7] Every active NBA franchise has played in at least one game seven. There have been twelve NBA playoff seasons in which no game seven was played: 1947 , 1949 , 1950 , 1953 , 1956 , 1958 , 1967 , 1972 , 1983 , 1985 , 1989 , 1991 , and 1999 . The 1994 , the 2014 and the 2016 postseasons hold the record for most game sevens played, with five. In 1979 , 1981 , 1988 , 2005 , 2006 , 2009 , 2012 , 2018 and 2020 , four game sevens were played. The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks both hold the record for most game sevens played in a single postseason, having played three game sevens in 1988 and 1994, respectively, the maximum possible at that time.
Key
OT
Overtime (the number in front indicates the number of overtime periods played, if there were more than one)
*
Indicates a game seven that was won by the road team
Year (X)
Indicates the number of games seven played in that year's postseason Each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season
∞
Indicates a game seven that was hosted at a neutral site
§
Indicates the team that lost a game seven after coming back from an 0–3 series deficit
Team (#)
Indicates team and the number of game sevens played by that team at that point
^
Indicates game seven in the NBA Finals
All-time game sevens
Year
Playoff round
Date
Venue
Winner
Result
Loser
Ref.
1948
Semifinals
April 6, 1948
St. Louis Arena
Philadelphia Warriors ( 1)
85–46*
St. Louis Bombers ( 1)
[ 8]
1951
Finals
April 21, 1951
Edgerton Park Arena
Rochester Royals ( 1)
79–75^
New York Knicks ( 1) §
[ 9]
1952
Finals
April 25, 1952
Minneapolis Auditorium
Minneapolis Lakers ( 1)
82–65^
New York Knicks ( 2)
[ 10]
1954
Finals
April 12, 1954
Minneapolis Lakers ( 2)
87–80^
Syracuse Nationals ( 1)
[ 11]
1955
Finals
April 10, 1955
Onondaga War Memorial
Syracuse Nationals ( 2)
92–91^
Fort Wayne Pistons ( 1)
[ 12]
1957
Finals
April 13, 1957
Boston Garden
Boston Celtics ( 1)
125–123 (2OT) ^
St. Louis Hawks ( 1)
[ 13]
1959
Division finals
April 1, 1959
Boston Celtics ( 2)
130–125
Syracuse Nationals ( 3)
[ 14]
1960
Division finals
March 26, 1960
Kiel Auditorium
St. Louis Hawks ( 2)
97–86
Minneapolis Lakers ( 3)
[ 15]
Finals
April 9, 1960
Boston Garden
Boston Celtics ( 3)
122–103^
St. Louis Hawks ( 3)
[ 15]
1961
Division finals
April 1, 1961
Kiel Auditorium
St. Louis Hawks ( 4)
105–103
Los Angeles Lakers ( 4)
[ 16]
1962
Division finals
April 5, 1962
Boston Garden
Boston Celtics ( 4)
109–107
Philadelphia Warriors ( 2)
[ 17]
Finals
April 18, 1962
Boston Celtics ( 5)
110–107 (OT) ^
Los Angeles Lakers ( 5)
[ 17]
1963
Division finals
April 10, 1963
Boston Celtics ( 6)
142–131
Cincinnati Royals ( 2)
[ 18]
April 11, 1963
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Los Angeles Lakers ( 6)
115–100
St. Louis Hawks ( 5)
[ 18]
1964
Division finals
April 16, 1964
Cow Palace
San Francisco Warriors ( 3)
105–95
St. Louis Hawks ( 6)
[ 19]
1965
Division finals
April 15, 1965
Boston Garden
Boston Celtics ( 7)
110–109
Philadelphia 76ers ( 4)
[ 20]
1966
Division finals
April 15, 1966
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Los Angeles Lakers ( 7)
130–121
St. Louis Hawks ( 7)
[ 21]
Finals
April 28, 1966
Boston Garden
Boston Celtics ( 8)
95–93^
Los Angeles Lakers ( 8)
[ 21]
1968
Division finals
April 19, 1968
The Spectrum
Boston Celtics ( 9)
100–96*
Philadelphia 76ers ( 5)
[ 22]
1969
Finals
May 5, 1969
The Forum
Boston Celtics (10)
108–106*^
Los Angeles Lakers ( 9)
[ 23]
1970
Division semifinals
April 6, 1970
Madison Square Garden
New York Knicks ( 3)
127–114
Baltimore Bullets ( 1)
[ 24]
April 9, 1970
The Forum
Los Angeles Lakers (10)
129–94
Phoenix Suns ( 1)
[ 24]
Finals
May 8, 1970
Madison Square Garden
New York Knicks ( 4)
113–99^
Los Angeles Lakers (11)
[ 24]
1971
Conference semifinals
April 4, 1971
Baltimore Civic Center
Baltimore Bullets ( 2)
128–120
Philadelphia 76ers ( 6)
[ 25]
April 6, 1971
The Forum
Los Angeles Lakers (12)
109–98
Chicago Bulls ( 1)
[ 25]
Conference finals
April 19, 1971
Madison Square Garden
Baltimore Bullets ( 3)
93–91*
New York Knicks ( 5)
[ 25]
1973
Conference semifinals
April 15, 1973
The Forum
Los Angeles Lakers (13)
95–92
Chicago Bulls ( 2)
[ 26]
Conference finals
April 29, 1973
Boston Garden
New York Knicks ( 6)
94–78*
Boston Celtics (11)
[ 26]
1974
Conference semifinals
April 12, 1974
Madison Square Garden
New York Knicks ( 7)
91–81
Capital Bullets ( 4)
[ 27]
April 13, 1974
Chicago Stadium
Chicago Bulls ( 3)
96–94
Detroit Pistons ( 2)
[ 27]
Finals
May 12, 1974
Milwaukee Arena
Boston Celtics (12)
102–87*^
Milwaukee Bucks ( 1)
[ 27]
1975
Conference semifinals
April 25, 1975
Capital Centre
Washington Bullets ( 5)
115–96
Buffalo Braves ( 1)
[ 28]
Conference finals
May 14, 1975
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
Golden State Warriors ( 4)
83–79
Chicago Bulls ( 4)
[ 28]
1976
Conference semifinals
April 29, 1976
Coliseum at Richfield
Cleveland Cavaliers ( 1)
87–85
Washington Bullets ( 6)
[ 29]
Conference finals
May 16, 1976
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
Phoenix Suns ( 2)
94–86*
Golden State Warriors ( 5)
[ 29]
1977
Conference semifinals
May 1, 1977
The Spectrum
Philadelphia 76ers ( 7)
83–77
Boston Celtics (13)
[ 30]
May 4, 1977
The Forum
Los Angeles Lakers (14)
97–84
Golden State Warriors ( 6)
[ 31]
1978
Conference semifinals
May 3, 1978
McNichols Sports Arena
Denver Nuggets ( 1)
116–110
Milwaukee Bucks ( 2)
[ 31]
Finals
June 7, 1978
Seattle Center Coliseum
Washington Bullets ( 7)
105–99*^
Seattle SuperSonics ( 1)
[ 31]
1979
Conference semifinals
April 29, 1979
Capital Centre
Washington Bullets ( 8)
100–94
Atlanta Hawks ( 8)
[ 32]
May 2, 1979
HemisFair Arena
San Antonio Spurs ( 1)
111–108
Philadelphia 76ers ( 8)
[ 32]
Conference finals
May 17, 1979
King County Domed Stadium
Seattle SuperSonics ( 2)
114–110
Phoenix Suns ( 3)
[ 32]
May 18, 1979
Capital Centre
Washington Bullets ( 9)
107–105
San Antonio Spurs ( 2)
[ 32]
1980
Conference semifinals
April 20, 1980
King County Domed Stadium
Seattle SuperSonics ( 3)
98–94
Milwaukee Bucks ( 3)
[ 33]
1981
Conference semifinals
April 17, 1981
HemisFair Arena
Houston Rockets ( 1)
105–100*
San Antonio Spurs ( 3)
[ 34]
April 19, 1981
The Spectrum
Philadelphia 76ers ( 9)
99–98
Milwaukee Bucks ( 4)
[ 34]
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Kansas City Kings ( 3)
95–88*
Phoenix Suns ( 4)
[ 34]
Conference finals
May 3, 1981
Boston Garden
Boston Celtics (14)
91–90
Philadelphia 76ers (10)
[ 34]
1982
Conference finals
May 23, 1982
Philadelphia 76ers (11)
120–106*
Boston Celtics (15)
[ 35]
1984
Conference semifinals
May 13, 1984
Boston Celtics (16)
121–104
New York Knicks ( 8)
[ 36]
Finals
June 12, 1984
Boston Celtics (17)
111–102^
Los Angeles Lakers (15)
[ 36]
1986
Conference semifinals
May 11, 1986
MECCA Arena
Milwaukee Bucks ( 5)
113–112
Philadelphia 76ers (12)
[ 37]
1987
Conference semifinals
May 17, 1987
Boston Garden
Boston Celtics (18)
119–113
Milwaukee Bucks ( 6)
[ 38]
Conference finals
May 30, 1987
Boston Celtics (19)
117–114
Detroit Pistons ( 3)
[ 38]
1988
Conference semifinals
May 21, 1988
The Forum
Los Angeles Lakers (16)
109–98
Utah Jazz ( 1)
[ 39]
May 22, 1988
Boston Garden
Boston Celtics (20)
118–116
Atlanta Hawks ( 9)
[ 39]
Conference finals
June 4, 1988
The Forum
Los Angeles Lakers (17)
117–102
Dallas Mavericks ( 1)
[ 39]
Finals
June 21, 1988
Los Angeles Lakers (18)
108–105^
Detroit Pistons ( 4)
[ 39]
1990
Conference semifinals
May 19, 1990
Memorial Coliseum
Portland Trail Blazers ( 1)
108–105 (OT)
San Antonio Spurs ( 4)
[ 40]
Conference finals
June 3, 1990
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Detroit Pistons ( 5)
93–74
Chicago Bulls ( 5)
[ 40]
1992
Conference semifinals
May 17, 1992
Chicago Stadium
Chicago Bulls ( 6)
110–81
New York Knicks ( 9)
[ 41]
Coliseum at Richfield
Cleveland Cavaliers ( 2)
122–104
Boston Celtics (21)
[ 41]
1993
Conference semifinals
May 22, 1993
Seattle Center Coliseum
Seattle SuperSonics ( 4)
103–100 (OT)
Houston Rockets ( 2)
[ 42]
Conference finals
June 5, 1993
America West Arena
Phoenix Suns ( 5)
123–110
Seattle SuperSonics ( 5)
[ 43]
1994
Conference semifinals
May 21, 1994
The Summit
Houston Rockets ( 3)
104–94
Phoenix Suns ( 6)
[ 44]
Delta Center
Utah Jazz ( 2)
91–81
Denver Nuggets ( 2) §
[ 45]
May 22, 1994
Madison Square Garden
New York Knicks (10)
87–77
Chicago Bulls ( 7)
[ 46]
Conference finals
June 5, 1994
New York Knicks (11)
94–90
Indiana Pacers ( 1)
[ 47]
Finals
June 22, 1994
The Summit
Houston Rockets ( 4)
90–84^
New York Knicks (12)
[ 48]
1995
Conference semifinals
May 20, 1995
America West Arena
Houston Rockets ( 5)
115–114*
Phoenix Suns ( 7)
[ 49]
May 21, 1995
Madison Square Garden
Indiana Pacers ( 2)
97–95*
New York Knicks (13)
[ 50]
Conference finals
June 4, 1995
Orlando Arena
Orlando Magic ( 1)
105–81
Indiana Pacers ( 3)
[ 51]
1996
Conference finals
June 2, 1996
KeyArena at Seattle Center
Seattle SuperSonics ( 6)
90–86
Utah Jazz ( 3)
[ 52]
1997
Conference semifinals
May 17, 1997
The Summit
Houston Rockets ( 6)
96–91
Seattle SuperSonics ( 7)
[ 53]
May 18, 1997
Miami Arena
Miami Heat ( 1)
101–90
New York Knicks (14)
[ 54]
1998
Conference finals
May 31, 1998
United Center
Chicago Bulls ( 8)
88–83
Indiana Pacers ( 4)
[ 55]
2000
Conference semifinals
May 21, 2000
American Airlines Arena
New York Knicks (15)
83–82*
Miami Heat ( 2)
[ 56]
Conference finals
June 4, 2000
Staples Center
Los Angeles Lakers (19)
89–84
Portland Trail Blazers ( 2)
[ 57]
2001
Conference semifinals
May 20, 2001
First Union Center
Philadelphia 76ers (13)
88–87
Toronto Raptors ( 1)
[ 58]
Bradley Center
Milwaukee Bucks ( 7)
104–95
Charlotte Hornets ( 1)
[ 59]
Conference finals
June 3, 2001
First Union Center
Philadelphia 76ers (14)
108–91
Milwaukee Bucks ( 8)
[ 60]
2002
Conference finals
June 2, 2002
ARCO Arena
Los Angeles Lakers (20)
112–106 (OT) *
Sacramento Kings ( 4)
[ 61]
2003
First round
May 4, 2003
American Airlines Center
Dallas Mavericks ( 2)
107–95
Portland Trail Blazers ( 3) §
[ 62]
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Detroit Pistons ( 6)
108–93
Orlando Magic ( 2)
[ 63]
Conference semifinals
May 17, 2003
American Airlines Center
Dallas Mavericks ( 3)
112–99
Sacramento Kings ( 5)
[ 64]
2004
First round
May 4, 2004
American Airlines Arena
Miami Heat ( 3)
85–77
New Orleans Hornets ( 1)
[ 65]
Conference semifinals
May 19, 2004
Target Center
Minnesota Timberwolves ( 1)
83–80
Sacramento Kings ( 6)
[ 66]
May 20, 2004
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Detroit Pistons ( 7)
90–69
New Jersey Nets ( 1)
[ 67]
2005
First round
May 7, 2005
FleetCenter
Indiana Pacers ( 5)
97–70*
Boston Celtics (22)
[ 68]
American Airlines Center
Dallas Mavericks ( 4)
116–76
Houston Rockets ( 7)
[ 69]
Conference finals
June 6, 2005
American Airlines Arena
Detroit Pistons ( 8)
88–82*
Miami Heat ( 4)
[ 70]
Finals
June 23, 2005
SBC Center
San Antonio Spurs ( 5)
81–74^
Detroit Pistons ( 9)
[ 71]
2006
First round
May 6, 2006
US Airways Center
Phoenix Suns ( 8)
121–90
Los Angeles Lakers (21)
[ 72]
Conference semifinals
May 21, 2006
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Detroit Pistons (10)
79–61
Cleveland Cavaliers ( 3)
[ 73]
May 22, 2006
AT&T Center
Dallas Mavericks ( 5)
119–111 (OT) *
San Antonio Spurs ( 6)
[ 74]
US Airways Center
Phoenix Suns ( 9)
127–107
Los Angeles Clippers ( 2)
[ 75]
2007
First round
May 5, 2007
Toyota Center
Utah Jazz ( 4)
103–99*
Houston Rockets ( 8)
[ 76]
2008
First round
May 4, 2008
TD Banknorth Garden
Boston Celtics (23)
99–65
Atlanta Hawks (10)
[ 77]
Conference semifinals
May 18, 2008
Boston Celtics (24)
97–92
Cleveland Cavaliers ( 4)
[ 78]
May 19, 2008
New Orleans Arena
San Antonio Spurs ( 7)
91–82*
New Orleans Hornets ( 2)
[ 79]
2009
First round
May 2, 2009
TD Banknorth Garden
Boston Celtics (25)
109–99
Chicago Bulls ( 9)
[ 80]
May 3, 2009
Philips Arena
Atlanta Hawks (11)
91–78
Miami Heat ( 5)
[ 81]
Conference semifinals
May 17, 2009
Staples Center
Los Angeles Lakers (22)
89–70
Houston Rockets ( 9)
[ 82]
TD Banknorth Garden
Orlando Magic ( 3)
101–82*
Boston Celtics (26)
[ 83]
2010
First round
May 2, 2010
Philips Arena
Atlanta Hawks (12)
95–74
Milwaukee Bucks ( 9)
[ 84]
Finals
June 17, 2010
Staples Center
Los Angeles Lakers (23)
83–79^
Boston Celtics (27)
[ 85]
2011
Conference semifinals
May 15, 2011
Oklahoma City Arena
Oklahoma City Thunder ( 8)
105–90
Memphis Grizzlies ( 1)
[ 86]
2012
First round
May 12, 2012
Staples Center
Los Angeles Lakers (24)
96–87
Denver Nuggets ( 3)
[ 87]
May 13, 2012
FedExForum
Los Angeles Clippers ( 3)
82–72*
Memphis Grizzlies ( 2)
[ 88]
Conference semifinals
May 26, 2012
TD Garden
Boston Celtics ( 28)
85–75
Philadelphia 76ers ( 15)
[ 89]
Conference finals
June 9, 2012
American Airlines Arena
Miami Heat ( 6)
101–88
Boston Celtics ( 29)
[ 90]
2013
First round
May 4, 2013
Barclays Center
Chicago Bulls ( 10)
99–93*
Brooklyn Nets ( 2)
[ 91]
Conference finals
June 3, 2013
American Airlines Arena
Miami Heat ( 7)
99–76
Indiana Pacers ( 6)
[ 92]
Finals
June 20, 2013
Miami Heat ( 8)
95–88^
San Antonio Spurs ( 8)
[ 93]
2014
First round
May 3, 2014
Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Indiana Pacers ( 7)
92–80
Atlanta Hawks ( 13)
[ 94]
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Oklahoma City Thunder ( 9)
120–109
Memphis Grizzlies ( 3)
[ 95]
Staples Center
Los Angeles Clippers ( 4)
126–121
Golden State Warriors ( 7)
[ 96]
May 4, 2014
Air Canada Centre
Brooklyn Nets ( 3)
104–103*
Toronto Raptors ( 2)
[ 97]
AT&T Center
San Antonio Spurs ( 9)
119–96
Dallas Mavericks ( 6)
[ 98]
2015
First round
May 2, 2015
Staples Center
Los Angeles Clippers ( 5)
111–109
San Antonio Spurs ( 10)
[ 99]
Conference semifinals
May 17, 2015
Toyota Center
Houston Rockets ( 10)
113–100
Los Angeles Clippers ( 6)
[ 100]
2016
First round
May 1, 2016
American Airlines Arena
Miami Heat ( 9)
106–73
Charlotte Hornets ( 2)
[ 101]
Air Canada Centre
Toronto Raptors ( 3)
89–84
Indiana Pacers ( 8)
[ 102]
Conference semifinals
May 15, 2016
Toronto Raptors ( 4)
116–89
Miami Heat ( 10)
[ 103]
Conference finals
May 30, 2016
Oracle Arena
Golden State Warriors ( 8)
96–88
Oklahoma City Thunder ( 10)
[ 104]
Finals
June 19, 2016
Cleveland Cavaliers ( 5)
93–89*^
Golden State Warriors ( 9)
[ 105]
2017
First round
April 30, 2017
Staples Center
Utah Jazz ( 5)
104–91*
Los Angeles Clippers ( 7)
[ 106]
Conference semifinals
May 15, 2017
TD Garden
Boston Celtics ( 30)
115–105
Washington Wizards ( 10)
[ 107]
2018
First round
April 28, 2018
Boston Celtics ( 31)
112–96
Milwaukee Bucks ( 10)
[ 108]
April 29, 2018
Quicken Loans Arena
Cleveland Cavaliers ( 6)
105–101
Indiana Pacers ( 9)
[ 109]
Conference finals
May 27, 2018
TD Garden
Cleveland Cavaliers ( 7)
87–79*
Boston Celtics ( 32)
[ 110]
May 28, 2018
Toyota Center
Golden State Warriors ( 10)
101–92*
Houston Rockets ( 11)
[ 111]
2019
First round
April 27, 2019
Pepsi Center
Denver Nuggets ( 4)
90–86
San Antonio Spurs ( 11)
[ 112]
Conference semifinals
May 12, 2019
Portland Trail Blazers ( 4)
100–96*
Denver Nuggets ( 5)
[ 113]
Scotiabank Arena
Toronto Raptors ( 5)
92–90
Philadelphia 76ers ( 16)
[ 114]
2020
First round
September 1, 2020
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex ∞
Denver Nuggets ( 6)
80–78
Utah Jazz ( 6)
[ 115]
September 2, 2020
Houston Rockets ( 12)
104–102
Oklahoma City Thunder ( 11)
[ 116]
Conference semifinals
September 11, 2020
Boston Celtics ( 33) [b]
92–87*
Toronto Raptors ( 6)
[ 117]
September 15, 2020
Denver Nuggets ( 7) [b]
104–89*
Los Angeles Clippers ( 8)
[ 118]
2021
First round
June 6, 2021
Staples Center
Los Angeles Clippers ( 9)
126–111
Dallas Mavericks ( 7)
[ 119]
Conference semifinals
June 19, 2021
Barclays Center
Milwaukee Bucks ( 11)
115–111 (OT) *
Brooklyn Nets ( 4)
[ 120]
June 20, 2021
Wells Fargo Center
Atlanta Hawks ( 14)
103–96*
Philadelphia 76ers ( 17)
[ 121]
2022
Conference semifinals
May 15, 2022
TD Garden
Boston Celtics ( 34)
109–81
Milwaukee Bucks ( 12)
[ 122]
Footprint Center
Dallas Mavericks ( 8)
123–90*
Phoenix Suns ( 10)
[ 123]
Conference finals
May 29, 2022
FTX Arena
Boston Celtics ( 35)
100–96*
Miami Heat ( 11)
[ 124]
2023
First round
April 30, 2023
Golden 1 Center
Golden State Warriors ( 11)
120–100*
Sacramento Kings ( 7)
[ 125]
Conference semifinals
May 14, 2023
TD Garden
Boston Celtics ( 36)
112–88
Philadelphia 76ers ( 18)
[ 126]
Conference finals
May 29, 2023
Miami Heat ( 12)
103–84*
Boston Celtics ( 37) §
[ 127]
All-time standings
Reoccurring game seven matchups
(*) – Number of overtime periods played in the seventh game.
Count
Matchup
Record
Years Played
8
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers/ Syracuse Nationals
Celtics, 6–2
1959 , 1965 , 1968 , 1977 , 1981 , 1982 , 2012 , 2023
5
Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Celtics, 4–1
1962 *, 1966 , 1969 , 1984 , 2010
4
Atlanta/ St. Louis Hawks vs. Boston Celtics
Celtics, 4–0
1957 **, 1960 , 1988 , 2008
4
Atlanta/ St. Louis Hawks vs. Los Angeles/ Minneapolis Lakers
Tie, 2–2
1960 , 1961 , 1963 , 1966
4
Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Celtics, 4–0
1974 , 1987 , 2018 , 2022
3
New York Knicks vs. Washington Wizards/ Baltimore/ Capital/ Washington Bullets
Knicks, 2–1
1970 , 1971 , 1974
3
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers
76ers, 2–1
1981 , 1986 , 2001
3
Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Cavaliers, 2–1
1992 , 2008 , 2018
3
Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder / Seattle SuperSonics
Rockets, 2–1
1993 *, 1997 , 2020
3
Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat
Heat, 2–1
2012 , 2022 , 2023
2
Los Angeles/ Minneapolis Lakers vs. New York Knicks
Tie, 1–1
1952 , 1970
2
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns
Tie, 1–1
1970 , 2006
2
Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Lakers, 2–0
1971 , 1973
2
Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
Tie, 1–1
1973 , 1984
2
Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons
Tie, 1–1
1974 , 1990
2
Oklahoma City Thunder / Seattle SuperSonics vs. Phoenix Suns
Tie, 1–1
1979 , 1993
2
Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks
Tie, 1–1
1992 , 1994
2
Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz
Tie, 1–1
1994 , 2020
2
Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns
Rockets, 2–0
1994 , 1995
2
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks
Tie, 1–1
1994 , 1995
2
Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks
Tie, 1–1
1997 , 2000
2
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors
Tie, 1–1
2001 , 2019
2
Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs
Tie, 1–1
2006 *, 2014
2
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Thunder, 2–0
2011 , 2014
Notes
a The home-and-away format in every round of the playoffs is the 2–2–1–1–1 format (the team with the better regular season record plays on their home court in games one, two, five and seven). The format of the finals from 1984–2013 used the 2–3–2 format (the team with the better regular season record plays on their home court in games one, two, six and seven).[ 128] In the past, there have been several other formats used in the playoffs.
b Won as the designated road team at a neutral-site game.
References
General
Specific
^ McCallum, Jack (May 24, 2004). "It's That Time Again: Everything changes when you get to Game 7. The air is different. The noise is different. And there's so much weight" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved June 30, 2016 .
^ Newmann, Peter (May 30, 2007). "Jazz–Spurs research notes" . ESPN . Retrieved January 17, 2023 .
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