Eastern Conference finals MVP Jayson Tatum led the way with 26 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat 100-96 on Sunday night to earn a berth in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
MIAMI -- Not this time. After being thwarted on the doorstep of the NBA Finals three other times in the previous five seasons, the Boston Celtics have broken through.Eastern Conference finals MVP Jayson Tatum led the way with 26 points, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart each added 24 and the Celtics beat the Miami Heat 100-96 on Sunday night to earn a berth in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
An 9-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Max Strus with 51 seconds left, got the Heat within 98-96. They got no closer. Boston would not be denied, and now is 2-0 in Game 7s in these playoffs after ousting defending champion Milwaukee in the East semis. Through 50 games, the Celtics were 25-25. No team had that sort of record through 50 games and made the NBA Finals since 1981, when the Houston Rockets started 22-28 and wound up making the title series — where they fell to Boston.
Boston's lead was 32-17 after one quarter — the largest ever by a road team after 12 minutes of a Game 7, four points bigger than Golden State's lead over the Los Angeles Lakers back in the 1977 playoffs.Miami ended the half on an 11-2 run, the burst sparked by 3s from Strus and Butler, then capped by four free throws from Lowry in the final 29 seconds. Butler was up to 24 points at the break and Miami had gotten within 55-49 going into the third.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Celtics hold off Heat to reach NBA Finals vs. WarriorsJayson Tatum scored 26 points, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart each added 24 and the Boston...
Read more »
Celtics knock off Miami, 100-96, for first NBA Finals appearance since 2010MIAMI — Jayson Tatum wore a purple and gold No. 24 armband in honor of his hero, Kobe Bryant, and by the end of the night had collected the trophy named after someone closer to the color uniform he was…
Read more »
Miami's Udonis Haslem takes aim at Warriors' star over NBA Finals prediction: ‘Draymond broke the code’Miami Heat veteran Udonis Haslem did not appreciate Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors predicting that the Boston Celtics would reach the NBA Finals.
Read more »
Insane NBA Finals Streak Involving New York Knicks Continues in 2022A mind-boggling NBA Finals streak involving New York Knicks players will continue this year thanks to the Boston Celtics Game 7 win over the Miami Heat.
Read more »