The team with the better regular season record secures the right to host more games in the NBA Finals series. This best-of-seven series features a 2-2-1-1-1 format, where the team holding this advantage hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the opposing team hosts Games 3, 4, and 6. For example, if Team A finishes the regular season with a 60-22 record, and Team B finishes with a 58-24 record, Team A would have this privilege.
This advantage holds considerable strategic value. Hosting more games in front of a supportive home crowd can provide a significant psychological and tangible boost. The increased comfort level for players and the disruption to the visiting team’s routines are often cited as contributing factors to the success of teams with better regular season records. Historically, teams with this benefit have won a disproportionately higher percentage of NBA Finals series.
