The Best NBA Finals Games of the Last Decade

A decade ago, the 2010 NBA Finals gave us one of the most iconic games in recent memory.
The Cavaliers were down by 2 with seconds to go in Game 7. Lebron James hit a game-tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime.
The game ended with a James buzzer-beater over Celtics forward Paul Pierce Here are the best NBA Finals games of the last decade.

2010: Lakers vs. Celtics

In 2010, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics met in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1987. The highly-anticipated matchup did not disappoint, with the two teams trading victories in the first four games. In Game 5, Lebron James had a triple-double to lead the Lakers to a 103-98 victory, and Kobe Bryant followed that up with a game-winning jumper in Game 6 to give the Lakers their 16th NBA Championship

2011: Mavericks vs. Heat

In 2011, the Mavericks faced off against the Heat in what would become one of the most iconic NBA Finals series of the last decade. Game 6, in particular, was a wild one, with the Mavericks coming back from a 15-point deficit to win in overtime. The game cemented Dirk Nowitzki as one of the greatest players of his generation and was a huge moment for the Mavericks franchise.

2012: Thunder vs. Heat

The 2012 NBA Finals was the Championship Series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 2011–12 season, and the conclusion of the season’s playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat defeated the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder 4 games to 1 to win their second NBA title Lebron James was named the Finals MVP

2013: Spurs vs. Heat

The 2013 NBA Finals were very special. It was a rematch of the previous year’s Finals, with the Miami Heat once again facing off against the San Antonio Spurs. This time, though, the Spurs were able to take home the trophy, thanks to some clutch shooting from veteran Manu Ginobili.

The 2014 NBA Finals were also very special. They featured a matchup between two of the best players in the world: Lebron James and Kevin Durant The two superstars went head-to-head in what was one of the most exciting Finals series in recent memory. Durant would ultimately come out on top, leading his team, the Oklahoma City Thunder to victory.

The 2016 NBA Finals will go down as one of the best in history. The series featured an incredible comeback from the Golden State Warriors who were down 3-1 to the Cleveland Cavaliers before winning three straight games to take home the title. The Finals also saw some amazing individual performances, including a 41-point game from Lebron James and a triple-double from Draymond Green

2014: Spurs vs. Heat

The 2014 NBA Finals featured a battle between two of the league’s best teams, the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat The Spurs had won five championships in the previous 15 years, while the Heat were looking to three-peat. In a closely contested series, the Spurs won in five games.

The series was a rematch of the previous year’s Finals, which the Heat had won in seven games. The 2014 Finals were much more competitive, with four of the five games being decided by single digits. In Game 5, Kawhi Leonard hit a clutch three-pointer to give the Spurs a lead they would never relinquish. Leonard was named Finals MVP becoming the third Spur to win the award.

This series is remembered fondly by basketball fans as one of the best NBA Finals of the last decade.

2015: Warriors vs. Cavaliers

The 2015 NBA Finals was the Championship Series of the 2014–15 season of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the conclusion of that season’s playoffs. The Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors defeated the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers in six games (4–2) for their league-leading 16th NBA Championship and their first since moving to Oakland in 1971.

The Cavaliers became the first team from Ohio to play in an NBA Finals commemorating Cleveland hosting its first NBA Finals game since 1997. The Warriors were led by Finals MVP Andre Iguodala who helped them win their fourth NBA title in franchise history, while also being the first Bay Area team to win a major professional sports championship since the San Francisco Giants won the World Series in 2010. It was also the first time since 1979 that neither of the previous year’s Finalsparticipants made it back to defend their title. Lebron James had a exceptional series averaging 35.8 points per game 8.8 rebounds per game and 13 assists per game en route to his fifth career Finals MVP but his efforts were not enough as his team ultimately fell short.

2016: Cavaliers vs. Warriors

The Warriors, who set an NBA regular season record with 73 victories, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the series before the Cavaliers won Game 3. Golden State then captured Game 4 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. But James and the Cavaliers would not be denied, winning the next three games to capture their maiden NBA title

The series will long be remembered for James’ incredible block of Andre Iguodala late in Game 7, which helped seal Cleveland’s victory. Kyrie Irving also had a big game for the Cavaliers, scoring 27 points and making the go-ahead three-pointer with 53 seconds remaining.

2017: Warriors vs. Cavaliers

The 2017 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 2016–17 season and conclusion of the season’s playoffs. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers In 2016, the Cavaliers defeated the Warriors in seven games after trailing three games to one, becoming the first team in NBA Finals history to come back from a 3–1 deficit. The Warriors were looking to avenge this loss and repeat as champions while also winning their third title in four years. This was also Cleveland’s fifth consecutive NBA Finals appearance, which tied a record set by Boston from 1984 to 1988; they were looking to become the first team since those Celtics to win an NBA Finals series after being down 3–1. These two teams met again in exactly the same spot they did last year: Oracle Arena in Oakland for Games 1, 2 and 5, and Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland for Games 3, 4 and 7.

The 2017 NBA Finals went back and forth. After trading blows in Game 1 and 2, with neither team leading by more than six points at any time, Golden State won a close game 3 on their home court thanks to some late-game heroics by Kevin Durant However, Cleveland responded with a resounding win in Game 4 led by LeBron James’s game-high 41 points. In Game 5 – with yet another incredible performance by Durant – Golden State jumped out to a 3–1 lead after winning both games in Cleveland. Facing elimination for a second straight year, LeBron James rallied his troops and led them to an impressive commanding victory in Game 6 back home forcing a winner-take-all Game 7.

Unfortunately for Cavs fans, history would not repeat itself as Golden State won their second straight title on their home court in convincing fashion, 129–120. Durant was named Finals MVP after averaging 35 points per game while shooting over 55% from three-point range throughout the series; he became just the sixth player ever to win Finals MVP with two different teams (joining Clyde Drexler Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Moses Malone, Lebron James and Shaquille O’Neal).

2018: Warriors vs. Cavaliers

In 2018, the Warriors found themselves in the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive year. They were pitted against the LeBron James led Cavaliers, a team they had beaten in the previous three Finals. The Cavs put up a good fight, but ultimately lost in a 4-0 sweep. In what would be his last season with the Cavs, LeBron averaged 34 points per game in the Finals.

2019: Raptors vs. Warriors

The 2019 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 2018–19 season and conclusion of the season’s playoffs. In the best-of-seven series, the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors defeated the Eastern Conference champion Toronto Raptors four games to two. Warriors forward Andre Iguodala was named the Finals MVP for the second straight year.

This was Golden State’s fifth consecutive appearance in the NBA Finals their sixth in eight seasons and their third consecutive against Cleveland. This was also Toronto’s first trip to the NBA Finals in franchise history. These two teams met again in the 2020 NBA Finals which Golden State won in six games.

The Warriors entered the series after winning back-to-back championships; they were seeking to become only the third team to win three or more consecutive championships since 1966, and only the fifth team to win three titles in four seasons. They defeated both Portland and Houston en route to their fourth straight Finals appearance becoming only second team since 1980 (after Los Angeles Lakers) to beat teams with at least 60 wins in each playoff round en route to a Finals appearance. The Raptors entered having won a franchise-record 59 games during the regular season and swept both Orlando and Philadelphia en route to their first ever Finals appearance; they became only fourth team since 1984 (after Los Angeles Lakers Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat) to beat teams with at least 50 wins in each playoff round on their way to a Finals appearance.