There is an excitement that comes along with basketball games. The NBA is a league where you and your friends can expect the unexpected as magic happens in seconds and the underdogs come out on top.
NBA betting odds can never be trusted, and do you know why? It takes only a few crazy seconds for the game to be turned on its head.
You and your friends have probably witnessed picnob many unforgettable NBA matches in history. One page cannot fit the many memorable games seen in our rich history. So, we have selected nine of the best iconic NBA games ever.
1. Philadelphia 76ers vs. Los Angeles Lakers
To understand how a Game 1 may be considered one of the greatest games in the NBA of all time, consider how strong the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers were. LA came into the season as the reigning NBA champions, with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant in their primes. Sure, the Lakers started slowly as Shaq worked his way back into form, yet by playoff time Skytech Gaming PC, the team was firing on all cylinders.
They swept the Western Conference playoffs 11-0, defeating Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, and San Antonio Spurs. Meanwhile, Allen Iverson’s 76ers survived successive seven-game series against the Raptors and Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and Finals, respectively.
Will the 76ers make history in the preseason game this year and change the NBA scores today in the 21st century?
2. NBA Finals, Game 7 – Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors were an absolute juggernaut in 2016. After winning the championship in 2015, Steve Kerr’s team transformed into an unstoppable juggernaut of off-ball movement and three-point shooting. They finished the regular season with the best win/loss record in history, with 73 victories and only nine defeats.
In addition, as half of the league’s highest-scoring frontcourt combo with fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson, Steph Curry was voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. The defending champions faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals, the same team they defeated the year before. The Cavs, on the other hand, had Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love healthy and available this time.
The Warriors took a 3-1 series lead before Cleveland came back with straight wins to force Game 7. This was an unusual accomplishment, given the Warriors rarely lost two games in a row. The championship game was held at the Oracle Arena in Oakland.
Golden State led by seven points at the half, but the Cavaliers surged in the second half. During the final two quarters of the 2016 season, LeBron’s team outscored the 73-win franchise 51-40. The most important component was Cleveland’s lockdown defense, which was highlighted by James’ incredible chase-down block on Andre Iguodala.
3. Los Angeles Lakers against Boston Celtics 2010
The Celtics had never lost a game, and all the sports betting odds were against the Lakers during this game. Kobi Bryant only had a few shots and struggled to find his form. The Lakers had a disappointing first march but later found a rhythm with the help of Pau Gasol and Ron Artest.
The Lakers led with three points and tied the scores to the Celtics. However, they won the NBA after Ron launched the most iconic shots from the corner enough to win, with Kobi attaining his fifth win and the Lakers winning for the sixteenth time.
4. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the 1980 LA Lakers’ legendary center and NBA MVP, drove the team. Magic Johnson, a 6-foot-9-inch point guard, was in his rookie season, and so made his first trip to the NBA Finals. The series between the Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers was tied 2-2 into Game 5.
The Lakers won the fifth game, but Kareem suffered a severely damaged ankle as a result.
The Lakers had to make the trip to Philadelphia without their offensive focal point for Game 6, who was unable to fly due to edema. If required, Abdul-Jabbar may make a comeback in the championship game.
5. Bulls 90 against Jazz 88 1997
During this game, Michael Jordan was battling the Flu and still managed to put a nail in the Jazz’s coffin several times. He dropped 38 points during game five, which gave the Bulls a 3-2 lead, which they needed desperately since they had lost two games.
This game was called “The Flu Game” and remains the best ever.
6. Cavaliers 93 against Warriors 89 2016
All basketball lovers know that “Game 7” is the best two words in basketball. The Cavaliers against Warriors Game 7 in 2016 was legendary for several reasons.
First, the Cavs and LeBron finished the only comeback from 3-1 in the final history, making Cleveland the champions. Throughout the game, LeBron was a beast and finished with a fantastic chase-down block on Iguodala with a 27-point triple-double in game 7.
The Cavaliers won in this game, one of the best NBA finals ever.
7. Boston Celtics against Phoenix Suns 1976
One of the craziest games in history, which had everything you could imagine in the NBA, was the Boston Celtics against Phoenix Suns in 1976. The game was tied at the end of the fourth quarter, and just a few seconds before the buzzer, John Havlicek scored, keeping Celrics in the lead.
During the second overtime, the Suns took the lead in the last minutes, but John Havlicek scored just as the game was about to end, and the fans rushed to the court two seconds before the end.
In the third overtime, the Celtics won the game by a small margin.
8. Heat 103 against Spurs 100 (OT) 2013
During the sixth game, the legacy of LeBron James was saved ironically by the former Celtic, Ray Allen, when he knocked down a corner three after Chris Bosh had missed and swung it to Allen in the corner.
The Heat won behind Lebron with a 32-point triple-double after the game went to overtime. Miami ended up keeping their consecutive title in the next round.
9. Chicago Bulls against Utah Jazz 1998
This was the last game before Michael Jordan left the Bulls. During this season, the Jazz had tied for the best record in the NBA. The Bulls had enough resources to win despite one player, Scottie, having a back injury.
In the fourth quarter, the Jazz were leading but later tied with the Bulls one minute before the buzzer. Stockton then scored a three-pointer, making Utah take the lead. However, with a few seconds to end, Michael Jordan used a trick and got the ball from Malone, and he miraculously shot and won another title.
Bottomline
The NBA continues to deliver memorable encounters season after season.
