History:
Spring 2026 marks the 28th year in which WhoWins™ has been providing historical victory probabilities, team performance records, and web-site design from the previous millennium on MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series and games. Our first archived web page, from 1999.

2026 NHL Playoffs:
After 82 best-of-7 NHL playoff games, the NHL has crowned its 2026 champion in the Carolina Hurricanes, which have achieved their second best-of-7 NHL championship and their first since 2006. The 82 total NHL playoff games in 2026 are the fewest in an NHL playoff season since the 81 total NHL playoff games required in 2007 to crown a champion.

2026 NBA Playoffs:
After 85 best-of-7 NBA playoff games, the NBA has crowned its 2026 champion in the New York Knickerbockers, which have achieved their third best-of-7 NBA championship and their first since 1973. The 85 total NBA playoff games in 2026 are the most in an NBA playoff season since the 87 total NBA playoff games required in 2022 to crown a champion.

Minimalists:
The 2026 NHL champion Carolina Hurricanes and NBA champion New York Knickerbockers required a total of 38 games to win their respective championships - the smallest such total since the NBA adopted a fourth round of best-of-7 NBA playoff games beginning in 2003. Those 38 games break the previous minimum record of 41 total games, set by the 2007 NHL champion Anaheim Ducks and NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. At the other extreme, the 2019 NHL champion St. Louis Blues and NBA champion Toronto Raptors together needed 50 grueling games to achieve their respective championships.

Comeback of Spring 2026:
On Wednesday 10 June, the host New York Knickerbockers trailed the San Antonio Spurs by 27 points at halftime, yet rallied to win their 2026 NBA Finals Game 4. The 27-point halftime deficit surmounted by the New York Knickerbockers for victory in the 2026 NBA Finals Game 4 is now the largest halftime deficit surmounted for victory by a home team in best-of-7 NBA playoffs history; the old record was a 22-point halftime deficit, surmounted by the Clippers in Los Angeles over the visiting Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Quarterfinals. Before Game 4, home teams in best-of-7 NBA playoff games trailing by 23+ points at halftime had a 0-28 (.000) game record.

Spring 2026 Ouster Board:
start (in Cleveland NBA): 4/18, 1:09pmEDT
--- Preliminary round ---
Ottawa NHL: 4/25, 5:57pmEDT
Los Angeles NHL: 4/26, 7:28pmEDT
Phoenix NBA: 4/28, 12:13amEDT
Portland NBA: 4/29, 12:24amEDT
Pittsburgh NHL: 4/29, 10:47pmEDT
Atlanta NBA: 4/30, 9:42pmEDT
Dallas NHL: 4/30, 10:13pmEDT
Denver NBA: 5/1, 12:22amEDT
Edmonton NHL: 5/1, 12:49amEDT
Boston NHL: 5/1, 10:14pmEDT
Houston NBA: 5/2, 12:14amEDT
Utah NHL: 5/2, 1:01amEDT
Boston NBA: 5/2, 10:02pmEDT
Orlando NBA: 5/3, 6:12pmEDT
Tampa Bay NHL: 5/3, 8:48pmEDT
Toronto NBA: 5/3, 10:26pmEDT
--- Quarterfinals round ---
Philadelphia NHL: 5/9, 9:13pmEDT
Philadelphia NBA: 5/10, 6:11pmEDT
Los Angeles Lakers NBA: 5/12, 1:23amEDT
Minnesota NHL: 5/13, 11:06pmEDT
Anaheim NHL: 5/15, 12:32amEDT
Minnesota NBA: 5/16, 12:15amEDT
Detroit NBA: 5/17, 10:47pmEDT
Buffalo NHL: 5/18, 10:49pmEDT
--- Semifinals round ---
Cleveland NBA: 5/25, 10:31pmEDT
Colorado NHL: 5/26, 11:44pmEDT
Montreal NHL: 5/29, 10:44pmEDT (NHL Bronze)
Oklahoma City NBA: 5/30, 10:48pmEDT (NBA Bronze)
--- Finals round ---
San Antonio NBA: 6/13, 11:29pmEDT (NBA Silver)
New York NBA: 6/13, 11:29pmEDT (NBA Gold)
Vegas NHL: 6/14, 10:57pmEDT (NHL Silver)
Carolina NHL: 6/14, 10:57pmEDT (NHL Gold)

BEST-OF-7 FEATURES
Articles on best-of-7 series phenomena.