The Pacers have done it! After bottling their 2-1 lead and going 3-2 down in this series after Game 5, Tyrese Haliburton and company have successfully forced a Game 7 in the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now, they await the most high-stakes game in all of basketball. But the arena that will play host to this pivotal game is the REAL cause for concern for the Indiana Pacers.

Allow us to explain.

Where is Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals happening?

All series in the NBA Playoffs follow a 2-2-1-1-1 format. And it’s the higher-seeded regular-season team that gets home-court advantage. And for this series, it belongs to the Oklahoma City Thunder. So, Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, June 22, will be held at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, home of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tipoff is set for 8 PM ET. And as for the broadcast? Well, nothing changes as ABC will be the ones bringing the final leg of this series to your screens, much like they’ve done for the last 6 games.

This game 7 between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder will be the 20th Game 7 in the history of the NBA Finals. And let’s just say it’s been a while since we saw a Finals series go to 7 games.

When was the last time Game 7 was played in the NBA Finals?

We saw history unfold the last time an NBA Finals series went to 7 games. The year was 2016, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors had just become the winningest team in NBA regular season history with a 73-9 record. It seemed as though LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers stood no chance against this force of nature.

But LeBron and Kyrie Irving were adamant and determined to avenge their NBA Finals loss the year prior. Which is why, despite going 3-1 down in this series and feelings of helplessness bubbling up, they were able to mount the greatest comeback in NBA history. Not only did they force a Game 7 in this series, but they also ended up as the NBA Champions when all was said and done. To this day, the 2016 Cavs remain the only team to come from behind and win the NBA title after going 3-1 down in the finals.

The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder certainly have a tall order in front of them. After all, living up to this legendary Game 7 will not be easy! Speaking of, this Cavs-Dubs game 7 is only the latest in the history of some legendary Game 7s in the NBA Finals.

How many game 7s have been played in the NBA Finals?

Every active franchise has played a Game 7 in the Playoffs. But only a few have ever gone the distance in the NBA Finals. Like we said earlier, the NBA Finals have seen 20 Game 7, including the 2025 NBA Finals. Here are the 19 Game 7s that preceded this year’s game:

 Rochester Royals vs New York Knicks (1951)

On April 21, 1951, the Rochester Royals eked out a narrow 75-79 win over the New York Knicks in Game 7 of the 1951 NBA Finals.

New York Knicks vs Minneapolis Lakers (1952)

The second Game 7 in two years saw the Knicks face off against the then-Minneapolis Lakers. The Knicks were dominated by the Lakers in an 82-65 blowout on April 25, 1952.

Minneapolis Lakers vs Syracuse Nationals (1954)

The Lakers played in their second NBA Finals Game 7 on April 12, 1954. They beat the Syracuse Nationals in a hard-fought 87-80 win!

Fort Wayne Pistons vs Syracuse Nationals (1955)

The Syracuse Nationals went 1-1 in Game 7s of the NBA Finals as they defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons, 92-91 on April 10, 1955.

 St. Louis Hawks vs Boston Celtics (1957)

This was Bill Russell’s first-ever Game 7 in an NBA Final. In it, his Boston Celtics squeaked out a 125-123 win over the St. Louis Hawks on April 13, 1957.

 St. Louis Hawks vs Boston Celtics (1960)

A rematch from the 1957 iteration of the Finals saw the Celtics dominate the Hawks. Bill Russell and co. won this game 122-103 on Aoril 9, 1960.

 Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics (1962)

The beginning of an unprecedented and unrepeated rivalry. Elgin Baylor and Jerry West weren’t able to best Bill Russell, losing 110-107 on April 18, 1962.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics (1966)

Their plans for revenge were thwarted as the Lakers lost their second Game 7 in a row, 05-93 on April 28, 1966.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics (1969)

Three years later and the Lakers and Celtics had completed a trifecta of NBA Finals Game 7 on May 5, 1969. However, the Lakers were still unable to conquer the Celtics, who won the game 108-106.

Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks (1970)

The Lakers’ misfortune in Game 7s continued on May 8, 1970. They handed the Knicks their first NBA title, with a blowout 113-99 loss in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals.

Boston Celtics vs Milwaukee Bucks (1974)

The Celtics returned to the NBA Finals in 1974 to hand the Milwaukee Bucks a convincing 102-87 loss in Game 7 on May 12.

Washington Bullets vs Seattle Supersonics (1978)

It was a while before an NBA Finals Game 7 was played without the Lakers or Celtics’ involvement. But on June 7, 1978, the Washington Bullets beat the Seattle Supersonics in a 105-99 victory to clinch the NBA title.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics (1984)

However, six years after the Bullets’ win, the Lakers and Celtics had taken over again. And once more, the Celtics bested the Lakers in a 111-102 win on June 12, 1984.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Detroit Pistons (1988)

The Los Angeles Lakers finally broke their Game 7 curse. They beat the Detroit Pistons in a tight 108-105 game on June 21, 1988.

New York Knicks vs Houston Rockets (1994)

Despite their best efforts, the Knicks couldn’t win their title, losing 90-84 to the Hakeem Olajuwon-led Houston Rockets on June 22, 1994.

Detroit Pistons vs San Antonio Spurs (2005)

It took 11 years for the next NBA Finals Game 7. In it, Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Detroit Pistons 81-74 on June 23, 2005.

Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers (2010)

It took the arrival of Kobe Bryant, but the Lakers finally beat the Celtics in an NBA Finals Game 7 after 5 unsuccessful attempts. Kobe led the Lakers to an 83-79 win on June 17, 2010.

San Antonio Spurs vs Miami Heat (2013)

After Ray Allen made THAT shot, the 2013 NBA Finals went to a Game 7. And LeBron James and the Miami Heat beat the Spurs 88-95 on June 20, 2013, to repeat as NBA Champions.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors (2016)

We just discussed this. But it can’t be stressed enough. LeBron and the Cavs completed the greatest comeback in NBA history on June 19, 201,6 by beating Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors, 93-89, to win the NBA title.

All in all, the NBA has a rich archive of Game 7s played in the Finals. And this face-off between Tyrese Haliburton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s teams is the latest iteration. Will they live up to their predecessors? It’s hard to say. But if the games of the past are any indication of the future. Well, we’re in for a ride!