When it comes to sports, nothing is greater than a Game 7. When it comes to Game 7s, nothing beats a deciding game during a championship series.
This year’s NBA Finals are headed to a Game 7, but before this game occurs, let’s take a trip back in time to revisit the last time a Finals saw a decisive Game 7.
TOP NEWS
Related: Indiana Pacers legends react to 2025 squad forcing Game 7
The last time an NBA Finals went the limit was in 2016. This was the series where the record-breaking 73-win Golden State Warriors went up against the LeBron James and Kyrie Irving-led Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cavaliers vs. Warriors Game 7
The date was June 19, 2016, and Game 7 of the Finals was held at the Warriors’ home court. Golden State was supposed to be the champions. They weren’t even supposed to be in this position, especially since they were up 3-1 in the series.
All of this didn’t matter to the Cavaliers. Cleveland entered the game with all of the momentum and they had the best player in the world on their roster. LeBron was ready to shock the world and cement his place in basketball glory.
LeBron and Kyrie’s clutch plays
The game between the Cavs and Warriors was a tense, low-scoring slugfest. Neither team could find an advantage. For the Warriors, they got a surprise lift from Draymond Green, who scored 32 points while adding 15 rebounds and 9 assists.
His brilliance, however, was overshadowed by the Cavs’ will to never give up. LeBron delivered a performance for the ages: 27 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, three blocks, and two steals.
His defining moment came with 1:50 left in the fourth quarter and is simply known as The Block. As Andre Iguodala raced down the court for a go-ahead layup, LeBron chased him down and pinned the shot against the backboard, a play that instantly became one of the most iconic in NBA history.
Moments later, with the score tied at 89, Kyrie stepped up. With 53 seconds remaining, he hit a cold-blooded step-back three-pointer over Stephen Curry, giving the Cavs a lead they would never relinquish.
Kyrie finished the game with 26 points and six rebounds, but none of his points were bigger than his last three.
Kevin Love, often the forgotten member of the Cavs’ Big 3, had perhaps his most important moment as a Cavalier when he switched onto Curry in the final minute and forced a tough, contested miss. Love also contributed nine points and 14 rebounds, as he kept the Warriors off the boards.
The Cavaliers would hold on to win Game 7, 93–89, completing the historic comeback. This championship was the Cavs’ first, and it ended Cleveland’s 52-year major sports title drought.
Golden State’s Game 7 woes
The Warriors saw their stars struggle when it mattered most. Curry scored just 17 points on 6-19 shooting, including 4-14 from three.
Klay Thompson wasn’t much better as he scored 14 points on 6-17 shooting, and 2-10 from three. This lack of star performance would lead to the acquisition of Kevin Durant in the following season.
This was the last Game 7 of an NBA Finals and quite possibly the greatest game in the Finals series. Will today’s Game 7 join the list as one of the greatest games in NBA history?
