List by Athlore editors
The Athlore editors’ best games
Twenty essential NBA games, manually ordered by community consensus, historical significance and the nights fans still argue about.
20 games
NBA Finals
2013Game6
MIAMIHEAT
SAN ANTONIOSPURS
JUN 18, 2013
1
NBA Finals
2016Game7
CLEVELANDCAVALIERS
GOLDEN STATEWARRIORS
JUN 19, 2016
2
NBA Finals
1998Game6
CHICAGOBULLS
UTAHJAZZ
JUN 14, 1998
3
Eastern ConferenceSemifinals
2019Game7
PHILADELPHIA76ERS
TORONTORAPTORS
MAY 12, 2019
4
NBA Finals
2022Game4
BOSTONCELTICS
GOLDEN STATEWARRIORS
JUN 10, 2022
5
NBA Finals
1976Game5
BOSTONCELTICS
PHOENIXSUNS
JUN 4, 1976
6
NBA Finals
2010Game7
LOS ANGELESLAKERS
BOSTONCELTICS
JUN 17, 2010
7
Western ConferenceFinals
2000Game7
LOS ANGELESLAKERS
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
JUN 4, 2000
8
Western First Round
2019Game5
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
OKLAHOMA CITYTHUNDER
APR 23, 2019
9
NBA Finals
1997Game5
CHICAGOBULLS
UTAHJAZZ
JUN 11, 1997
10
Western ConferenceFirst Round
2023Game7
SACRAMENTOKINGS
GOLDEN STATEWARRIORS
APR 30, 2023
11
Western ConferenceFinals
2016Game6
GOLDEN STATEWARRIORS
OKLAHOMA CITYTHUNDER
MAY 28, 2016
12
Eastern First Round
2009Game6
CHICAGOBULLS
BOSTONCELTICS
APR 30, 2009
13
NBA Finals
1980Game6
LOS ANGELESLAKERS
PHILADELPHIA76ERS
MAY 16, 1980
14
NBA Finals
1962Game7
BOSTONCELTICS
LOS ANGELESLAKERS
APR 18, 1962
15
Western First Round
2014Game6
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
HOUSTONROCKETS
MAY 2, 2014
16
NBA Finals
2001Game1
PHILADELPHIA76ERS
LOS ANGELESLAKERS
JUN 6, 2001
17
NBA Finals
1984Game7
BOSTONCELTICS
LOS ANGELESLAKERS
JUN 12, 1984
18
NBA Finals
2021Game6
PHOENIXSUNS
MILWAUKEEBUCKS
JUL 20, 2021
19
Eastern ConferenceFinals
2012Game6
MIAMIHEAT
BOSTONCELTICS
JUN 7, 2012
20