List of NBA game sevens

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, 151 game sevens have been played. Of those, only six went into overtime, and one into double overtime. 39 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 thirteen 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

All-time game sevens

All-time standings

Reoccurring game seven matchups

(*) – Number of overtime periods played in the seventh game.

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 to 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).^[131] 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

• "All-Time Game Seven Road Winners". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
• "Breakdown of Game 7s in NBA playoff history". NBA.com. June 8, 2012. Archived from the original on June 11, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2012.

Specific

1. 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. Archived from the original on September 13, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
2. Newmann, Peter (May 30, 2007). "Jazz–Spurs research notes". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
3. Hickok, Ralph (February 18, 2009). "NBA 1967–68 Season". HickokSports.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2009.
4. Abrams, Jonathan & Beck, Howard (May 2, 2009). "An Unforgettable Series, and They've Only Just Begun". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
5. Anderson, Corrie and Rob Reheuser, et al (2006). Sporting News Official 2006–2007 NBA Guide. Sporting News Books. ISBN 0-89204-854-9.
6. Rosen, Charley (2008). The First Tip-Off: The Incredible Story of the Birth of the NBA. Mc-Graw Hill. pp. 211–212. ISBN 0-07-148785-9.
7. "NBA serves up rare Game 7 feast". USA Today. May 21, 2006. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
8. "1948 BAA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
9. "1951 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
10. "1952 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
11. "1954 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
12. "1955 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
13. "1957 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
14. "1959 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
15. "1960 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
16. "1961 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
17. "NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
18. "1963 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2006. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
19. "1964 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2006. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
20. "1965 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
21. "1966 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
22. "1968 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
23. "1969 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
24. "1970 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
25. "1971 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
26. "1973 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
27. "1974 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
28. "1975 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
29. "1976 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
30. "1977 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
31. "1978 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
32. "1979 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
33. "1980 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
34. "1981 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
35. "1982 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
36. "1984 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
37. "1986 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
38. "1987 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
39. "1988 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
40. "1990 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
41. "1992 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
42. "Boxscore – Seattle vs. Houston". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
43. "Boxscore – Phoenix vs. Seattle". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
44. "Boxscore – Houston vs. Phoenix". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
45. "Boxscore – Utah vs. Denver". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
46. "Boxscore – New York vs. Chicago". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
47. "Boxscore – New York vs. Indiana". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
48. "Boxscore – Houston vs. New York". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
49. "Boxscore – Houston at Phoenix". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
50. "Boxscore – Indiana at New York". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
51. "Boxscore – Orlando vs. Indiana". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
52. "Boxscore – Seattle vs. Utah". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
53. "Boxscore – Houston vs. Seattle". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
54. "Boxscore – Miami vs. New York". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
55. "Boxscore – Chicago vs. Indiana". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
56. "Boxscore – New York at Miami". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
57. "Boxscore – L.A. Lakers vs. Portland". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
58. "Boxscore – Philadelphia vs. Toronto". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
59. "Boxscore – Milwaukee vs. Charlotte". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
60. "Boxscore – Philadelphia vs. Milwaukee". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
61. "Boxscore – L.A. Lakers at Sacramento". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
62. "Boxscore – Dallas vs. Portland". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
63. "Boxscore – Detroit vs. Orlando". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
64. "Boxscore – Dallas vs. Sacramento". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
65. "Boxscore – Miami vs. New Orleans". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
66. "Boxscore – Minnesota vs. Sacramento". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
67. "Boxscore – Detroit vs. New Jersey". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
68. "Boxscore – Indiana at Boston". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
69. "Boxscore – Dallas vs. Houston". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
70. "Boxscore – Detroit at Miami". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
71. "Boxscore – San Antonio vs. Detroit". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
72. "Boxscore – Phoenix vs. L.A. Lakers". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
73. "Boxscore – Detroit vs. Cleveland". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
74. "Boxscore – Dallas at San Antonio". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
75. "Boxscore – Phoenix vs. L.A. Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
76. "Boxscore – Utah at Houston". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
77. "Boxscore – Boston vs. Atlanta". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
78. "Boxscore – Boston vs. Cleveland". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
79. "Boxscore – San Antonio at New Orleans". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
80. "Boxscore – Boston vs Chicago". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
81. "Boxscore – Atlanta vs. Miami". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
82. "Boxscore – Los Angeles vs. Houston". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
83. "Boxscore – Orlando at Boston". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
84. "Boxscore – Milwaukee at Atlanta". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
85. "Boxscore – Boston at Los Angeles". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
86. "Boxscore – Memphis at Oklahoma City". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
87. "Boxscore – Denver at Los Angeles". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
88. "Boxscore – L.A. Clippers at Memphis". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
89. "Boxscore – Philadelphia at Boston". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
90. "Boxscore – Boston at Miami". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
91. "Boxscore – Chicago at Brooklyn". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
92. "Boxscore – Indiana at Miami". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
93. "Boxscore – San Antonio at Miami". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
94. "Boxscore – Atlanta at Indiana". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
95. "Boxscore – Memphis at Oklahoma City". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
96. "Boxscore – Golden State at Los Angeles". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
97. "Boxscore – Brooklyn at Toronto". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
98. "Boxscore – Dallas at San Antonio". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
99. "Boxscore – San Antonio at Los Angeles". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
100. "Boxscore – Los Angeles at Houston". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
101. "Boxscore – Charlotte at Miami". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
102. "Boxscore – Indiana at Toronto". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
103. "Boxscore – Miami at Toronto". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
104. "Boxscore – Oklahoma City at Golden State". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
105. "Boxscore – Cleveland at Golden State". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
106. "Boxscore – Utah at Los Angeles". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
107. "Boxscore – Washington at Boston". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
108. "Boxscore – Milwaukee at Boston". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
109. "Boxscore – Indiana at Cleveland". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
110. "Boxscore – Cleveland at Boston". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
111. "Boxscore – Houston at Golden State". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
112. "Boxscore – San Antonio at Denver". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
113. "Boxscore – Portland at Denver". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
114. "Boxscore – Philadelphia at Toronto". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
115. "Boxscore – Utah at Denver". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
116. "Boxscore – Oklahoma City at Houston". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
117. "Boxscore – Boston at Toronto". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
118. "Boxscore – Denver at Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
119. "Boxscore – Dallas at Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
120. "Boxscore – Milwaukee at Brooklyn". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
121. "Boxscore – Atlanta at Philadelphia". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
122. "Boxscore – Milwaukee at Boston". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
123. "Boxscore – Dallas at Phoenix". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
124. "Boxscore – Boston at Miami". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
125. "Boxscore – Golden State at Sacramento". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
126. "Boxscore – Philadelphia at Boston". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
127. "Boxscore – Miami at Boston". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
128. "Boxscore – Orlando at Cleveland". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
129. "Boxscore – Indiana at New York". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
130. "Boxscore – Minnesota at Denver". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
131. Ryan, Bob (June 23, 2005). "Time to turn back clock on format". The Boston Globe.