{"id":115951,"date":"2025-06-22T07:08:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-22T07:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/115951\/"},"modified":"2025-06-22T07:08:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T07:08:13","slug":"nba-finals-game-7-ranking-the-top-moments-as-lebron-james-bill-russell-lead-history-of-memorable-finishes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/115951\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Finals Game 7: Ranking the top moments as LeBron James, Bill Russell lead history of memorable finishes"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the first time in nine years<\/a>, the NBA<\/a> title comes down to a Game 7. League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> leads the charge with the Oklahoma City Thunder against the underdog Indiana Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Pacers are trying to become the first professional franchise across the four major sports to win a championship despite odds at +8000 or higher entering the postseason, according to CBS Sports Research. With a victory, the Pacers would tie the 2004 Pistons<\/a> (+700) as the largest NBA Finals underdog to win the series in the last 40 years (Odds per FanDuel Sportsbook<\/a>). \u00a0<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City hopes to bounce back from a lopsided showing in Game 6 that included eight turnovers from Gilgeous-Alexander \u2014 which tied the record for the most Finals giveaways \u2014 and an equally disappointing showing from Jalen Williams<\/a>, who was held to 16 points after lighting up the Pacers for 40 in Game 5.<\/p>\n

It may take a historic showing from one of the stars of the series to punctuate the finale for either squad. Looking back at NBA history, there have been several unforgettable moments in Game 7 of the Finals.<\/p>\n

7. Biggest shot of\u00a0Kyrie Irving<\/a>‘s career<\/p>\n

Irving stepped into a 3-pointer off the dribble in the final minute of Game 7 at Golden State, a shot that came a few moments after LeBron James’ all-time block. Irving scored 12 of his 26 points that evening in the third quarter to help the Cavaliers erase a multi-possession deficit heading into the final frame. Irving’s jumper with 53 seconds left was followed by a miss from Stephen Curry at the other end as the home crowd stood in silence at what was transpiring — Cleveland becoming the first team to ever erase a 3-1 deficit to win the Finals.<\/p>\n

6. Tim Duncan wins slugfest with Pistons<\/p>\n

Only once did a team eclipse 100 points during the 2005 NBA Finals, a black-and-blue defensive battle between the\u00a0Spurs<\/a>\u00a0and Pistons. Duncan’s 25 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks helped San Antonio stop Detroit’s dominance at the top of the NBA and marked his third of five career titles over an illustrious, 19-year career. Duncan earned Finals MVP for his efforts, his third such honor.<\/p>\n

5. LeBron delivers vs. three Hall of Famers<\/p>\n

James seized his second NBA title with the\u00a0Heat<\/a>\u00a0in 2013 and closed out San Antonio with several big-time plays in the fourth quarter. South Beach was buzzing after his pull-up jumper with 28 seconds put the nail in the coffin against Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. James finished with 37 points and 12 rebounds, quieting the few remaining naysayers who clung to doubts about the ‘Big Three’ following\u00a0the infamous decision in 2010<\/a>. James’ heroics came after Ray Allen forced Game 7 a few nights prior with the biggest 3-pointer of his career.<\/p>\n

4. Lakers’ Worthy performance downs Detroit<\/p>\n

Los Angeles became the first NBA franchise in two decades to win consecutive titles in 1988 thanks to James Worthy’s first career triple-double, which came in Game 7 at the Great Western Forum against the Detroit Pistons. Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were the headliners for the Lakers, but it was Worthy’s 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists that helped Los Angeles win, 108-105.<\/p>\n

3. ‘The Logo’ reigns supreme<\/p>\n

There’s a reason Jerry West is synonymous with basketball greatness. He scored a Game 7-record 42 points during the\u00a0Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>‘ loss to the Boston Celtics in 1969, adding 13 rebounds and 12 assists to put up a triple-double during the matchup — a first of its kind in the Finals. Worthy and James are the only other players to record a triple-double in Game 7 of the Finals.<\/p>\n

2. Bill Russell’s perfect record<\/p>\n

The first ballot Hall of Famer finished a sparkling 10-0 in Game 7s for his career, five of those coming in the Finals with the\u00a0Celtics<\/a>. Unstoppable down low in the 1960s, Russell achieved the following stat lines in deciding Finals games: 19 points and 32 rebounds (1957), 22 points and 35 rebounds (1960), 30 points and 40 rebounds (1962), 25 points and 32 rebounds (1966) and a six-point, 21-rebound effort in his final NBA season in 1969. Russell’s NBA-record 11 championships will likely never be broken.<\/p>\n

1. James blocks Warriors’ go-ahead layup<\/p>\n

With under two minutes to play in the 2016 Finals with the scored knotted at 89-89, Golden State’s\u00a0Stephen Curry<\/a> and Andre Iguodala<\/a> had a 2-on-1 fastbreak against Cleveland’s J.R. Smith with LeBron James<\/a> trailing the play. Curry hit Iguodala with a bounce pass in the lane before James skied toward the backboard and pinned the basketball against the glass with his right hand for an incredible block. James finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists during a memorable all-time performance as the Cavaliers<\/a> erased a 3-1 deficit against the 73-win Warriors to win the title.<\/p>\n

“My thing is, I knew (LeBron) was coming and I (wanted) to give him a chance,” Smith said.<\/p>\n

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