The 1962 NBA Finals mark what many feel is the beginning of the major rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. At the end of the fourth quarter, game seven was tied at 100, and Frank Selvy of the Lakers missed the winning basket. This allowed the Celtics to take the game in overtime.

In 1969, the Celtics and Lakers were again head-to-head in game seven of the Finals, with Wilt Chamberlain leading the team from the west coast. Still, the Celtics launched a successful counter-attack, leading them to a two point win. In 1980, however, the tide turned. The Celtics had a lead, with three games to two, mostly due to the play of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who sprained his ankle in Game 5. Magic Johnson of the Lakers, who wasn't well known at the time, stepped in as center, scored an amazing 42 points in Game 6, and led the Lakers to the title with a 123-107 win.

In 2005, the first four games were huge successes for the home teams; however, Game 5 (a tight game) was taken by the San Antonio Spurs who, despite a Game 6 loss, came back to clinch the Championship in Game 7 over the Pistons.