While there have been some great games in NBA Finals history, we've selected five that stand out. These are the games that the best players in the league performed in.
Despite a slew of injuries throughout the season, the Celtics were able to overcome a plethora of challenges to win eight straight titles, the most in franchise history. They defeated the Boston Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and Detroit Pistons.
Among the most famous games in Finals history was the one in which Magic Johnson won his only championship. This game is also known for its improbable victory and its uncanny closeness to reality. Throughout the series, he was able to deliver nine points in the last five minutes and pull down 15 rebounds in the process.
It's hard to pick a single best performance in the series. The Warriors' home court advantage was a huge advantage, and they were able to take a 2-0 lead in the series. But the Spurs were not going to let that opportunity slip away.
In the series, the Lakers were a far cry from their regular-season pace. The team won its first two games at home before losing a Game 3 that was so close that it took an 8-0 run in the final minute to send it into overtime. As a result, the series was a bit of a grind.
Game 3 was no exception. Despite the homecourt advantage, the Celtics had to battle back. LeBron James led the charge with 32 points and 11 assists. He also had three blocks and two steals, the most in the series. However, he did not have enough help in the end.
Despite his MVP efforts, Russell West ultimately failed to win the title. His best performance was a 12-assist, 13-rebound triple-double in Game 7 that saw him earn the Finals MVP. On the flip side, he lost his sixth NBA Finals game.
There have been a few other Finals games that were worthy of the aforementioned "Moment of Magic" award. One of them was a game that included a clothing line on Kurt Rambis, but was also the only game in which a player tied the game. The other was a game in which a player took the first shot of the second half.
Other notable Finals games include a memorable Game 5 in which the Celtics won the first three overtimes before the Lakers won the last. Also, the game in which the Warriors were able to hold a ten-point lead in the third quarter only to lose it in the fourth.
Finally, the biggest Finals-related game-to-game comparison is the 57-23 Chicago Bulls run in Game 1 of the 1992 series. That's a pretty big deal, as they were a slew of playoff surprises all year long.
Whether the Lakers or Celtics win the NBA Finals this year, there will be a lot to talk about in the coming weeks. Check back with us for more updates!
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