The saying “the two greatest words in sports are ‘Game 7’” is a cliche for a reason.
The Washington Nationals and Houston Astros will off in Game 7 of the World Series Wednesday night. The Nats forced a Game 7 after beating the Astros in Houston on Tuesday night, to extend the championship series.
In this series, the road team has won each time, setting up the Nats for a potential World Series win if that holds. That said, the Astros may use their home-field advantage to claim victory.
Game 7s have a history of excitement. One game to win the title? Talk about exciting. To get you ready for tonight’s Game 7, here are seven of the most exciting Game 7 moments from recent sports history.
2016 World Series: Cubs vs. Indians
The Chicago Cubs’ win over the Cleveland Indians marked the end of an 108 year-drought of World Series wins for the Cubs. The team hadn’t won a World Series since 1908, but even after a rainstorm that delayed the start of the 10th inning by 17 minutes, the Cubs pulled ahead of the Cleveland Indians 8-7 to win their first Fall Classic in over a century.
2016 NBA Finals: Cavaliers vs. Warriors
The Golden State Warriors had set an NBA record with 73 wins during the season, and held a 3-1 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers during the finals. So the Cavaliers pulling off a Game 7 comeback was even more improbable. LeBron James led the way to victory with 27 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds. The Cavs’ 93-89 win brought the team its first-ever championship.
2013 NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Bruins vs. Maple Leafs
The Boston Bruins pulled ahead in overtime to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 and win the series. The Bruins also became the first team in NHL history to win a Game 7 after being behind by three points during the third period.
2000 NBA Western Conference Finals: Lakers vs. Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers had rallied from a 3-1 deficit to force a Game 7, and going into the fourth quarter, they held a 15-point lead. But the Lakers pulled ahead. One of the most decisive plays came with 40 seconds left on the clock when Kobe Bryant passed the ball to Shaquille O’Neal, who made a slam dunk for a final 89-84 win.
2001 World Series: Diamondbacks vs. Yankees
The 2001 World Series was notable for being held just two months after the events of 9/11, and also for the Arizona Diamondbacks winning their first World Series. The Diamondbacks pulled ahead of the New York Yankees from a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth.
1987 NHL Patrick Division semifinals: Islanders vs. Capitals
This game became known as “The Easter Epic” because, though it started the night before Easter Sunday, it became one of the longest games in NHL history when it lasted into the early hours of Sunday morning. The game lasted six hours and 16 minutes, ending during the fourth overtime.
1960 World Series: Pirates vs. Yankees
This game featured the only walk-off home run in World Series Game 7 history, courtesy of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Bill Mazeroski. The home run pulled the Pirates ahead 10-9 over the New York Yankees to secure the series.