{"id":77994,"date":"2024-05-19T10:36:18","date_gmt":"2024-05-19T14:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=77994"},"modified":"2024-05-19T10:36:18","modified_gmt":"2024-05-19T14:36:18","slug":"how-often-do-home-teams-win-game-7-in-nba-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/05\/19\/how-often-do-home-teams-win-game-7-in-nba-playoffs\/","title":{"rendered":"How Often Do Home Teams Win Game 7 In NBA Playoffs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether it\u2019s the NBA, MLB, or NHL, the words \u2018Game 7\u2019 always bring excitement to the fanbases of the sport. A \u2018win and you advance, lose and you\u2019re eliminated\u2019 single game brings the feel of the NFL Playoffs.\u00a0On Sunday, there are two Game 7 matchups taking place in the NBA. First, we have the New York Knicks<\/a> at home against the Indiana Pacers. Then, we have the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road against the defending champion Denver Nuggets.<\/p>\n

The winners of those games will advance to the Eastern and Western Conference Finals respectively.\u00a0How often has the home team prevailed in league history when facing a Game 7?<\/p>\n

How Often Do Home Teams Win Game 7 In NBA Playoffs?<\/h2>\n

Home Team Owns Huge Advantage<\/h3>\n

When reaching a Game 7, it should easily be understood that the road team will be entering the home arena of a raucous crowd. With so much at stake, fans want to leave the arena happy that their home team has not been eliminated.\u00a0The numbers seem to back up that there is a fairly large advantage to being the home team in a Game 7. Since 1947, there have been 149 Game 7s in the NBA. According to NBC Sports<\/a>, the home team owns a 112-37 record (.752) in those Game 7s.<\/p>\n

There was just one Game 7 in the opening round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. The Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> held serve on their home court by defeating the Orlando Magic 106-94<\/a>.\u00a0It was a different story in the 2023 NBA Playoffs which featured three Game 7s. The home team came out on top just once.<\/p>\n

The only home team to win a Game 7 last year was the Celtics in the second round against the 76ers. Off the heels of a record-breaking<\/a> 51-point performance from Jayson Tatum<\/a>. While the Miami Heat won on the road in Game 7 against the Boston Celtics to advance to the NBA Finals. Additionally, the Warriors took Game 7 on the road in their first-round matchup with the Kings as Steph Curry<\/a> had an incredible\u00a050-point<\/a> performance. \u00a0The Nuggets did not face the maximum amount of seven games en route to their first NBA championship.<\/p>\n

The Two Home Teams Are Favorites On Sunday<\/h3>\n

In the Pacers\/Knicks series, the home team has won each of the first six matchups. That hasn\u2019t been the case out West, as both the Timberwolves and Nuggets are just 1-2 at home. It is understandable though why the defending NBA Champions are considered favorites for their Game 7.\u00a0Neither home team is seen as a substantial favorite though. According to DraftKings Sportsbook<\/a>, the Knicks are listed at -3.5 and the Nuggets at -5 as of this writing.<\/p>\n

Amazingly, this will only be Minnesota\u2019s second Game 7 in franchise history. In 2004, the Timberwolves defeated the Sacramento Kings in a Game 7 to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Minnesota was the home team in that game.<\/p>\n

\n

KG (32 PTS, 21 REB, 5 BLK) balled out on his 28th birthday to send Minnesota to the WCF \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n

Kings vs. Timberwolves, 2004 WC Semifinals Game 7 – 6pm ET on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com\/v3ZcE1L6gA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA TV (@NBATV) May 19, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n