Celtics-Heat score, takeaways: Boston survives Miami rally, heads to NBA Finals after wire-to-wire Game 7 win

The Boston Celtics are heading again to the NBA Finals for the primary time since 2010 after beating the Miami Warmth on the street 100-96 in Recreation 7 Sunday night time. Jayson Tatum led the way in which with 26 factors, and Jaylen Brown and Marcus Sensible added on 24 factors apiece because the Celtics transfer on to play the Golden State Warriors for the championship, starting with Recreation 1 Thursday in San Francisco.

The Celtics led wire-to-wire, and responded each time the Warmth went on a run. Miami went on a late run and minimize the deficit to 2 factors, however Boston managed to hold on for the win. Jimmy Butler did many of the offensive work for Miami, ending with 35 factors whereas enjoying the complete recreation. However Butler alone could not get it carried out for the No. 1-seeded Warmth. 

With Boston’s win, Ime Udoka turns into the primary rookie head coach in NBA historical past to win a number of Recreation 7s; Boston beat the Bucks 109-81 in Recreation 7 earlier within the East semis. 

Here is three takeaways from Boston’s win over Miami in Recreation 7. 

1. Tatum, and Brown and Sensible, oh my 

Tatum and Brown reside for Recreation 7s. You do not consider me? Here is a stat that may blow your thoughts. With the win Sunday night time, Tatum now improves to a 4-1 report in Recreation 7s, whereas Brown is now at a 5-1 report in Recreation 7s. So it is protected to say these guys shine when the lights are the brightest. Tonight was no totally different, as Brown and Tatum mixed for 50 factors. Throw in Sensible’s 24 factors and it is fairly straightforward to see why the Celtics received this recreation. From the opening tip you may inform that the Celtics wished to come back out aggressive, and whereas the Warmth gave Boston a scare within the last minutes of the sport, it was due to the performances of Tatum, Brown and Sensible that gave the C’s the win. 

It is the precise kind of efficiency you need out of your key gamers in a win-or-go-home contest, and the celebs had been out for Boston on the street. But it surely wasn’t simply the scoring that was spectacular from all three gamers. It was the protection of Sensible and Brown on Butler to not chew on his pump faux and restrict the contributions of everybody else on the Warmth. It was Tatum’s playmaking, a much-improved ability we have seen from him this season, that led to open 3s within the corners for Boston. You would see all of the enhancements these core guys have been engaged on through the years paying off within the largest recreation of their careers tonight, and it simply so occurred to result in a spot within the NBA Finals. 

2. Jimmy vs. all people

Butler performed the total 48 minutes, and he put his all into his efficiency to try to will the Warmth to a win. I really feel like Butler enjoying the total recreation will in all probability go ignored, however I do not suppose there’s very many gamers on this league who may do what he did tonight. What’s even crazier, he made it look straightforward. Butler seemed simply as spry within the closing minutes of the sport as he did at opening tip, and to place the cherry on prime of this loopy sundae he is been coping with a nagging knee harm as properly. 

Butler was masterful in his Recreation 7 efficiency. He obtained to the free-throw line primarily each time he wished to, as Boston struggled to include him for the second straight recreation. He was hustling for rebounds, unfastened balls and enjoying the very Jimmy Butler model of basketball the complete night time and not using a single break longer than a timeout.  

Sadly, Butler’s efficiency wasn’t sufficient as he obtained minimal assist exterior of Bam Adebayo’s 25 factors. Lowry tacked on 15 factors as properly, however it actually felt just like the Butler present tonight, and that is finally the rationale the Warmth misplaced the sport. That is not solely stunning, given Miami has progressively cooled off over the course of this collection, and when Tyler Herro tries to make a comeback after lacking three video games and solely performs six minutes, you are type of at an obstacle already. Herro apart, Max Strus’ capturing struggles continued as properly, and whereas he did knock down a vital 3-pointer on the tail finish of the sport to chop Boston’s lead right down to only a two-point lead, he ended the night time going 2 for 7 on 3-pointers. 

3. Al Horford will lastly get a shot at a title

Horford held the report for many playoff video games (141) performed with out reaching the NBA Finals. However with Boston’s win tonight that streak has been snapped and the veteran ahead could have his first shot at a championship. Horford’s made the playoffs 13 occasions out of his 15-year profession, and has reached the convention finals thrice — as soon as with Atlanta and twice with Boston — previous to this however has fallen brief each time. However after years of not reaching that time, Horford could have his first, and maybe greatest shot at a hoop. 

Though the Celtics shall be going through the Warriors who open as favorites to win all of it, this is not the identical Golden State group from just a few years in the past that had been straight up embarrassing groups on a nightly foundation. Whereas the Warriors made fast work of the Dallas Mavericks within the West finals, the Celtics will current a far more durable matchup for the Warriors within the Finals. Horford will play a vital function in making an attempt to make life troublesome for the Warriors on protection, and if he retains flattening 3s at a excessive clip like he has been all postseason lengthy (45.6 p.c), then it’s going to put Boston in a great place to try to win a title for the primary time since 2008.