The 2024 NBA Finals tip off on Thursday night, as the Boston Celtics look to add an 11th Larry O’Brien Trophy to their trophy case, while the Dallas Mavericks look to secure the franchise’s second-ever NBA title.
For viewing purposes, getting the opportunity to see a seven-game series between the Celtics and Mavericks would be wildly entertaining. It’s somewhat uncommon for an NBA Finals series to go the full seven games, however. Throughout history, the NBA Finals has gone the full distance of seven games only 19 times.
Most recently, the 2016 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors was decided in seven games, but the past seven championships have been decided quicker than that.
Here’s a look at every NBA Finals series that has gone seven games:
|
YEAR |
MATCHUP |
|---|---|
|
1951 |
Rochester Royals def. New York Knicks |
|
1952 |
Minneapolis Lakers def. New York Knicks |
|
1954 |
Minneapolis Lakers def. Syracuse Nationals |
|
1955 |
Syracuse Nationals def. Fort Wayne Pistons |
|
1957 |
Boston Celtics def. St. Louis Hawks |
|
1960 |
Boston Celtics def. St. Louis Hawks |
|
1962 |
Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers |
|
1966 |
Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers |
|
1969 |
Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers |
|
1970 |
New York Knicks def. Los Angeles Lakers |
|
1974 |
Boston Celtics def. Milwaukee Bucks |
|
1978 |
Washington Bullets def. Seattle Supersonics |
|
1984 |
Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers |
|
1988 |
Los Angeles Lakers def. Detroit Pistons |
|
1994 |
Houston Rockets def. New York Knicks |
|
2005 |
San Antonio Spurs def. Detroit Pistons |
|
2010 |
Los Angeles Lakers def. Boston Celtics |
|
2013 |
Miami Heat def. San Antonio Spurs |
|
2016 |
Cleveland Cavaliers def. Golden State Warriors |
Game 7’s have been few and far between in recent history. Since 1995, only four NBA Finals series have reached the coveted seventh game.
Of course, those that have gone the distance have resulted in some iconic moments, including the Cavaliers becoming the first team in league history to overcome a 3–1 deficit in the Finals in ’16 against the Warriors.
Of the 19 Game 7’s in NBA Finals history, only two have gone to overtime, and none since 1962 when the Celtics took down the Lakers.
