Classics do not owe to every sport, but to basketball? It produces such nights when it is impossible to think that everything is not in a film. The type of games that elicit people to forget to breathe, the kind of game you are still discussing many years down the line. Some of those were shown at insane hours, including 2 am streams, which meant waking up early and turning off the alarm just before sunrise. However, no one minded: it was a football fan’s thing in Asia, and the same was true for the supporters in Latin America. Why? They were events because these were not ordinary games—time to rewind five of the best NBA matches that had everything, suspended and stolen hearts.
1. 2016 NBA Finals, Game 7 – Cavaliers vs. Warriors
You knew that this would be at the top. Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals was not only a basketball game; it was a drama. Everyone was thinking it was over, and the 73-win Warriors had made it seem impossible to be beaten, especially by the three-down Cavs. Even NBA betting odds had heavily favored Golden State, making what came next even more shocking. LeBron James, however, had his intentions. Two plays resound in history books like a myth: The Block-LeBron on Andre Iguodala and the dagger three by (then) Kyrie Irving with fewer than 60 seconds left. The two events reversed history. The final result was 93-89 Cleveland, and with that, the first NBA basketball championship in the city’s history.
You know, you can bet that this was one to get out of bed (or even to stay in bed) over in Manila or Tokyo.
2. 1976 NBA Finals, Game 5 – Celtics vs. Suns
This one is dubbed the most excellent game ever played, and people are not kidding when they say this. Triple overtime. Wild swings. A plot that Hollywood would discard on the premise of being too melodramatic. It was punch against punch between Boston and Phoenix. Phoenix guards Gar Heard drained a jumper to send the game into a 3rd OT, and at that point, fans were privy that they were witnessing history. Final score: 128–126 Celtics. But never mind the figures. This game was a chaotic and heart-wrenching affair, lasting three incredible and exhausting overtimes.
3. 1998 NBA Finals, Game 6 – Bulls vs. Jazz
Did you ever idolize Michael Jordan as a kid? In that case, this one stays in your head at no cost. Game 6: the stage. Chicago is 3-2 in front. Heck, the Jazz will die to take the series to game seven. The perfection by Jordan: steals it in bounds and easily walks it up in the face of Karl Malone, then makes that jumper over Bryon Russell. Swish. Bulls 87, 86. Even today, iconic moments like this fuel discussions and excitement on platforms such as MelBet betting company, keeping the legacy alive in a new way. Jordan stands in that indelible follow-through–hand cocked, record set. Prestige number six. His final Bullets bullet. In case there was any poetry to basketball, this was the masterpiece.
4. 2010 NBA Finals, Game 7 – Lakers vs. Celtics
Lakers. Celtics. Game 7. Those words alone feel heavy. This wasn’t pretty basketball—it was a slugfest. Both teams missed shots. Every rebound felt like a war. Kobe Bryant couldn’t find his shot but still grabbed 15 rebounds and willed his team to an 83–79 win. That gave him ring number five and sweet revenge for the 2008 loss. Asian fans? Picture watching this with your morning coffee and your heart pounding out of your chest. Worth every second.
5. 2019 East Semifinals, Game 7 – Raptors vs. 76ers
One shot. Four bounces. Silence. Then an eruption. Kawhi Leonard’s buzzer-beater might be the most dramatic finish in modern NBA history. Game tied at 90. Kawhi launches a rainbow from the corner. The ball hits the rim once… twice… three times… hangs in the air… and finally drops.
Final score: 92–90 Raptors. The photo of Kawhi crouched, staring at the ball like time had frozen. That became an instant classic. Toronto rode that moment to their first championship.
Quick Recap Table
| Game | Score | Why It’s Legendary |
| 2016 Finals, Game 7 | Cavs 93–89 | LeBron’s chase-down + Kyrie’s dagger |
| 1976 Finals, Game 5 | Celtics 128–126 | Triple OT insanity |
| 1998 Finals, Game 6 | Bulls 87–86 | Jordan’s Last Shot = Basketball Art |
| 2010 Finals, Game 7 | Lakers 83–79 | Kobe’s grit + ultimate redemption |
| 2019 East Semis, Game 7 | Raptors 92–90 | Kawhi’s four-bounce buzzer-beater |
Why These Games Stay With Us
What made these matchups so special?
- Everything on the line – Titles, legacies, cities living and dying with every shot.
- Moments you can’t predict – Blocks, buzzer-beaters, shots that feel like destiny.
- Legends proving they’re legends – MJ, Kobe, LeBron, Kawhi—they delivered when it mattered most.
- Feelings that linger – These weren’t games you just watched. They were games you felt.
So next time someone asks why basketball is so much, just show them clips of these games—no words needed.
About The Author
Hemant Singh
Hello friends, I am Hemant, Technical Writer & Co-Founder of Education Learn Academy. Talking about education, I am a student. I enjoy learning things related to new technology and teaching others. I request you that you keep supporting us in this way and we will continue to provide new information for you. :)
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