The Boston Celtics are back in the NBA Finals after 12 years. The Celtics clinched their spot on Sunday night with a 100-96 Game 7 win over the Miami Heat. They will play the Golden State Warriors for a chance to win a record-breaking 18th championship.
After failing to close out the series in their own building in Game 6, the Celtics came out swinging in the Heat’s FTX Arena. Boston raced to a 15-point lead in the first quarter and never looked back. On the other hand, Miami wasn’t ahead at any point in the game.
“We’ve been responding all year, all season, to adversity,” said shooting guard Jaylen Brown. “Today was the biggest test, not just of the year but of our careers, to mentally come into a Game 7 away after losing on our home court, which was tough, and we got it done.”
Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics, scoring 26 points to go with 10 rebounds and six assists. For his Game 7 performance and impact throughout the series, Tatum was recognized as the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and awarded the inaugural Larry Bird Trophy.
Jimmy Butler had another big game for the Heat, scoring 35 points to go with nine boards. However, most of his teammates failed to step up. Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Kyle Lowry were the only Miami players in double digits on the night.
