After yesterday’s game between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors, it was decided that the Warriors would advance to the Finals. This also means that the Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers will have to face each other in the Finals for the fourth time in a row. It will be Golden State’s 10^th appearance in the Finals, while the Cavs will make their 5^th appearance. But which teams have faced off in the Finals the most?

5. Boston Celtics vs St.Louis/Atlanta Hawks – 4 times

The Hawks have made 4 Finals appearances in the history of the franchise, and they were all before 1961, and all against the Boston Celtics. The Celtics, on the other hand, have been in 21 Finals, the latest being in 2010. This means it has almost been 60 years since the Hawks have made it to the Finals.

4. Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers – 4 times

This will be the fourth time these two teams meet in the Finals, and also the fourth consecutive year. Furthermore, it will be the eight consecutive Finals appearance for LeBron James, who was a part of the team for every Finals appearance the Cavs have made in franchise history. The Warriors won their first championship in 1947, in the inaugural season of the league.

3. Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks – 5 times

The first two times these teams met in the Finals was in 1952 and 1953. Both series were won by the Lakers. It would take 17 years before these teams would come across each other again in the Finals, and in 1970, the Knicks took home the Championship. Overall, it’s 3-2 for the Lakers.

2. Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers vs Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers – 6 times

The first time the Lakers faced the 76ers in the Finals was back in 1949-1950, back when the 76ers were still named the Syracuse Nationals, and the Lakers were still located in Minneapolis. Their latest matchup was in 2001, when Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal faced off against Allen Iverson. Iverson won the regular season MVP award, but the Lakers took home the title and O’Neal became the Finals MVP.

1. Boston Celtics vs Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers – 12 times

The first time these teams met in the Finals was in 1959, when the Celtics defeated the Lakers 4-0. The teams faced each other 6 times in the 1960’s. Both the Lakers and the Celtics were dominating the league, but it would prove to be the Celtics Dynasty era, and they almost seemed unstoppable. The Celtics made 10 Finals appearances between 1958 and 1969, and beat the Lakers all six times they met.

In the 70’s both the Lakers and Celtics advanced to the Finals several times, but there wasn’t a single matchup between them. It took until 1984 before both teams faced each other in the Finals again, and by that time the Lakers had added Magic Johnson to their team, while the Celtics had Larry Bird. They would meet three times in the 80’s, two of which were won by the Lakers.

Their last two meetings were in 2008 and 2010. The Celtics won the first one, the Lakers the last. Overall, it’s 9-3 for the Celtics, and the Celtics also hold the record for most titles in the NBA.