However, a pair of successful free throws from Wes Unseld (15 points, game quiz 12 rebounds) kept Washington ahead and eventually gave legendary coach Dıck Matta his lone career title. As we’ll see, the Celtics were part of the only two NBA Finals Game 7s to be decided in overtime. Boston was in the midst of its stretch of eight consecutive titles, but the first time it would face the Los Angeles Lakers — thus truly beginning a rivalry that’s among the most celebrated — and heated — in all sports. The Celtics were pushed to the limit and needed overtime in Game 7 to dispatch the pesky Lakers. Boston superstar Bill Russell recorded 30 points and an unworldly 40 rebounds.
This was the eighth time the Celtics and Lakers met to decide the NBA’s champion. The story of the series was the sweltering heat in the famed Boston Garden, which was particularly rough during Game 5. Though the inside temperature was in the low 90s for Game 7, the Lakers shot an even hotter 48.8 percent. The team, though, puled away late, thanks to going 43-of-51 from the free-throw line. Cedric Maxwell, who recorded a late steal on Magic Johnson, was one of three Celtics to post at least 20 points, leading the way with 24.
Still, for some of “Game 7”’s entries, it’s like a Game 7 blowout — you’re glad the series made it this far, but you would’ve liked a bit more competitiveness at the very end. But now he’s been passed by Charlie Morton, who won Game 7 of both the 2017 ALCS and World Series for the Astros — the ALCS as a starter, the World Series in relief. In 2020, he started Game 7 of the ALCS against the Astros, leading the Rays to a pennant. • Meanwhile, 18 other Game 7s have been one-run affairs — most recently the Dodgers’ 4-3 win over the Braves in the finale of the 2020 NLCS.
1957: Boston 125, St. Louis 123, 2OT
The Boston Celtics won the 1957 title with a double-overtime victory over the St. Louis Hawks and the 1962 title with an overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The archival footage is essential and impeccable; it’s why a “Game 7” episode on, say, Bill Mazeroski’s 1960 World Series-winning home run wouldn’t have worked as well. But there’s nothing quite like hearing Cleveland’s Rajai Davis talk about trying to scale the center-field wall to catch a home run by the Cubs’ David Ross — and then seeing a younger Davis slip as his foot tries to stick in the wall. Tiny details like that are what carry a series — both the TV and the sports kind. • Hall of Famers Willie Stargell (1979 World Series) and Max Carey (1925 World Series) are the only players to club at least three extra-base hits in a winner-take-all Game 7.
NBA News
In fact, the Lakes’ 17-point margin of victory was the largest of any game in the series. Georg Mikan finished with 22 points and 19 rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 46.2 percent, and also held New York to just 28.1 percent from the field for the contest — and only eight points in the third quarter. Only two Knicks — Max Zaslofsky and Connie Simmons — scored in double figures for the game. The Heat’s second straight NBA title was tougher than most NBA fans probably thought. Miami won 66 games during the regular season but fell behind 3-2 in the Finals.
But compared to so many other 21st-century Game 7s, it’s not exactly a memorable entry. Two separate episodes include Mark Messier, which is not exactly a surprise given that Messier is an executive producer on the series. But the hockey episodes — the 1987 Stanley Cup Final, Edmonton vs. Philadelphia, and the 1994 Stanley Cup Final, Rangers vs. Canucks — lack the energy and vibrancy of the baseball ones. As we move into late October and the final act of baseball’s postseason, it’s a fine time to begin considering the historical weight of Game 7s. Prime Video takes on that challenge with “Game 7,” an engaging, enjoyable five-episode documentary beginning Tuesday that covers some of sports’ greatest moments, as told by the players, coaches and fans who lived through them. • Only five Game 7s, and the 1912 Game 8, have gone into extra innings — five times in the World Series and once in the ALCS (the Aaron Boone game in 2003).
NBA playoffs: Schedule and results
There have been 13 NBA postseasons without a Game 7, but it’s been a while since that last happened. While history says a Finals series has around a one-in-four shot at reaching a Game 7, it was a more common occurrence in the early days of the league. Only four NBA Finals have needed a Game 7 since 1994, with the most recent instance coming in 2016.
This table below lists teams that, after being down three games to none, have forced a seventh game. The Celtics weren’t as dominant in the 1970s as they were during the late 1950s and into the ’60s, but they still won two titles during the decade. Boston went 3-1 on the road during the 1974 NBA Finals, with one of those victories coming rather easy in this Game 7 at Milwaukee. While the Celtics hounded Bucks’ star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who managed 26 points, Boston’s Dave Cowens proved too much by scoring 28, leading five visitors in double-figure points. Teams that lead the LCS three games to one have won 37 of 45 series (82.2 percent).
• For a long time, Hall of Famer Bob Gibson was the only pitcher in history to win multiple Game 7s. Gibson conquered the Yankees by winning his third start of the 1964 World Series on just two days’ rest, and then he defeated the Red Sox with 10 strikeouts and two runs allowed in the final game of the 1967 Fall Classic. The team with the best record in the regular season gets to begin the World Series (and potentially host Game 7) at their home ballpark regardless of playoff seeding.
By contrast, all five of the Game 7s in the 2014 playoffs came in the first round. • Only four pitchers have turned in a double-digit strikeout performance in a Game 7. Roger Clemens (2001 World Series), Gibson (1967 World Series), Sandy Koufax (’65 World Series) and Hal Newhouser (’45 World Series) share the record with 10.
The 1994, 2014 and 2016 NBA playoffs hold the record for the most Game 7s with five apiece. • A total of 21 pitchers have gone the distance with complete-game efforts in a winner-take-all Game 7. Gibson is the only pitcher with multiple complete Game 7 efforts, having done so three times to end the 1964, ’67 and ’68 World Series. Thirteen pitchers have thrown a Game 7 shutout, but no one has done so since Jack Morris’ legendary 10-inning scoreless start in the Twins’ 1-0 win over the Braves to clinch the 1991 World Series. With both of those matchups complete, let’s take a look back at MLB Game 7 history and break down what happens when a playoff series reaches that all-important game.
Shengelia is coming off an impressive showing against Bayern that saw him net 21 points, a season high, while Clyburn had 27 points – his most in a non-overtime game since October 22, 2021 – in Virtus’s only win of the campaign at Partizan. Swingman Isaia Cordinier is another who will be leaned on after enjoying a career year so far, scoring in double figures in each of his team’s first six games and averaging 15.0 points per night. While Milan will be without Shields, Virtus has had to make do without defensive pest Alessandro Pajola for the last two games due to injury, and he is out once again Round 7, as is fellow guard Daniel Hackett. However, it only took a year for the then-Nationals to reach the top of the NBA mountain.
The Rangers became the first on Monday night, taking a big step toward the first championship in franchise history with an 11-4 blowout of the Astros in ALCS Game 7 at Houston’s Minute Maid Park. The D-backs became the second on Tuesday night in Philadelphia when they beat the Phillies, 4-2, in Game 7 to send Arizona to the World Series for the first time since 2001. Whether it’s the World Series or the League Championship Series, a winner-take-all postseason showdown is always must-watch baseball.