How the NBA Finals format and home court work

Every round of the modern NBA playoffs is best-of-seven. The Finals is no exception. A series can end in four games (a sweep) or go the full seven. Most champions need at least 16 playoff wins in four rounds, though the exact path has changed over league history.

Home-court advantage in the Finals goes to the team with the better regular-season record. If records tie, the tie-breakers in the NBA rule book decide who gets home court.

The home schedule follows the 2-2-1-1-1 pattern. The team with home court hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. The other team hosts Games 3, 4, and 6. That format has been standard since 1985. Before that, the league sometimes used 2-2-1-1-1 and sometimes other patterns.

Game 7, when needed, is always at the home-court team's arena. That is why a Game 7 in Boston or Los Angeles carries extra weight for the host crowd.

In earlier eras the playoffs were shorter. The first BAA and NBA champions sometimes needed only three or four series wins total because the league had fewer teams. When reading old championship pages on this site, check the year. A 1947 title did not require the same gauntlet as a 2024 title.

The team without home court can still win the series. Road teams need to steal at least one game in the first two at the opponent's building, or win both at home and force a Game 7 on the road. Many Finals turn on a single road win in Game 4 or Game 5.

The Finals MVP award goes to one player on the winning team. The vote is taken after the clinching game. It often goes to the best scorer on the champions, but not always. Andre Iguodala won in 2015 without leading Golden State in scoring.