What recent NBA Game 7 history says about home court 'advantage' for Thunder in winner-take-all game

What recent NBA Game 7 history says about home court 'advantage' for Thunder in winner-take-all game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

>Many NBA fans were delighted to see the San Antonio Spurs emerge victorious from Thursday's Game 6. This meant that a Game 7 was in store, and each team would be one win away from an NBA Finals appearance.

>While the Spurs can pat themselves on the back for an impressive performance, the job is far from finished. Victor Wembanyama and Co. are now forced to march into a hostile Paycom Center and deal with a boisterous Oklahoma City home crowd.

>Home-court advantage is one of the key aspects in ensuring a victory. Right?

>While that is a common notion, the statistics as of late may say otherwise. The Thunder may not cruise to victory as easily as they may have thought, with 11 of the Game 7 victors in the last 20 matchups traveling on the road.

>Here's the rundown on whether Oklahoma City's home crowd has Game 7 history on its side.

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What recent Game 7 history says about Thunder's chancesSince the 2010 NBA Playoffs, there have been 55 Game 7s played thus far. Saturday's bout between the Thunder and Spurs will be No. 56.

>In that span, the home team has won 34 of those games, which creates a win percentage of around 61.8 percent. That number may come as a surprise to NBA fans, as the home team has won a significant portion of fewer than three out of four games while on their own court.

>During the 2026 Playoffs, there will be five Game 7s once Oklahoma City hosts San Antonio on Saturday night. This will become the fourth time in NBA history that there has been a quintet of win-or-go-home Game 7s, according to the NBA.

FIFTH GAME 7 OF THESE PLAYOFFS 🍿

Magic/Pistons Raptors/Cavs 76ers/Celtics Cavs/Pistons Spurs/Thunder

San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City will be the fifth Game 7 of the NBA Playoffs… tying the record for most winner-take-all games in a single postseason (1994, 2014, 2016)! pic.twitter.com/80Ft6DR6IS

— NBA (@NBA) May 29, 2026This season, home teams own a record of 2-2 during these games. The Philadelphia 76ers (vs. Boston Celtics) and Cleveland Cavaliers (vs. Detroit Pistons) were able to string together a win on the road during their Game 7 battles.

>SN NBA AWARDS:POY (Victor Wembanyama)| ROY (Kon Knueppel) | COY (Joe Mazzulla)

Home team records in NBA Game 7sIn Game 7s during the NBA playoffs, home teams hold a 117-42 overall record through the 159 matchups before OKC and San Antonio's game on Saturday, according to the NBA.

>When a Game 7 occurs during the NBA Finals, which has happened 20 times, home teams hold a 16-4 record. The Thunder became the latest home victor in a Game 7 after their 103-91 win during the 2025 NBA Finals.

>MORE: How both the Thunder and Spurs come away in better standing thanks to lottery reform

Away team records in NBA Game 7sDuring the playoffs, the away team has a 42-117 record in Game 7s. However, that trend may be changing.

>In the last 20 Game 7s, the away teams actually hold the edge. The traveling team has won 11 of those games since the beginning of the 2021 NBA Playoffs.

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