Boston deadly from long distance, Miami next

For the fourth consecutive season, the NBA could have a unique champion.

In a grueling seven-game sequence between Milwaukee and Boston, the Celtics emerged victorious.

Boston defeated Milwaukee 109-81 on Sunday, marking the primary time a staff has gained consecutive video games on this sequence. Boston prevented elimination in Recreation 6 on the highway after which knocked off the defending champions.

The Celtics will play the Miami Warmth within the Jap Convention finals, beginning with Recreation 1 Tuesday in Miami (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

The celebs got here to play with their seasons on the road.

Bucks All-NBA ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 factors, 20 rebounds and 9 assists, and Boston’s Jaylen Brown had 19 factors, eight rebounds and two steals, and Jayson Tatum had 23 factors. Marcus Sensible added 11 factors, 10 assists and 7 rebounds for Boston.

CAREER NIGHT: Tatum bests Giannis in all-time duel as Celtics pressure Recreation 7

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3s damage Bucks once more

The Celtics outscored the Bucks 51-21 on 3-pointers in Recreation 6 on Friday, and so they outscored them 66-12 in Recreation 7 on Sunday – an 84-point distinction over two video games.

Milwaukee shot simply 21.1% (4-for-33) on 3s and made only one within the second half as Boston pulled away. Wesley Matthews, Grayson Allen, Jrue Vacation and Pat Connaughton have been a mixed 0-for-18 from that vary.

Within the remaining two video games of the sequence, the Bucks shot 11-for-62 on 3s, and the Celtics 39-for-98.

Regardless of how the sequence is framed, it’s exhausting to beat a high quality staff within the second spherical taking pictures like that from 3.

Grant Williams makes Bucks pay

The Bucks are recognized for permitting 3s, and so they made a aware choice to let Boston ahead Grant Williams shoot them. He struggled at occasions on this sequence, together with 2-for-14 in Video games 3, 4, 5, and 6, however he however made 7-for-18 when wanted in Recreation 7.

Williams completed with a game-high 27 factors.

Two seasons in the past as a rookie, Williams shot 25% on 3s, and this season, he shot 41.1%.

No shock: Antetokounmpo got here to play

Win or lose, Antetokounmpo wasn’t taking part in Recreation 7 with no full efficiency. He scored or assisted on 24 of the Bucks’ 26 factors within the first quarter, together with the primary 17.

Antetokounmpo had 10 factors, eight rebounds, six assists within the first quarter. He almost had a triple-double: 25 factors, 20 rebounds, 9 assists, plus two steals and a block.

Nonetheless, he struggled together with his photographs, making simply 10-for-26 from the sector and lacking some inside photographs that he normally makes. Give the Celtics credit score. They made it powerful on him the complete sequence.

Tatum stellar once more

Tatum adopted up his 46-point efficiency in Recreation 6 with 23 factors, eight assists, six rebounds and a block. He took simply 14 photographs — an indication of the expansion in his sport. Tatum didn’t attempt to pressure his offense and he seemed for others because the Bucks targeted a lot of their protection on him.

He’ll want that very same sort of manufacturing, persistence and focus in opposition to the Warmth.

No Middleton damage Bucks

It was clear all through the sequence, and particularly the ultimate two video games – each Celtics victories – that Milwaukee sorely missed Khris Middleton, who didn’t play due to a sprained left knee.

Milwaukee struggled to generate offense exterior of Antetokounmpo, and Middleton would have helped. He was a 20-point a sport scorer within the common season, capable of knock down 3s and mid-range photographs.

With out Middleton, simply three Bucks (Antetokounmpo, Jrue Vacation and Pat Connaughton) averaged in double figures, and Milwaukee’s starters have been outscored 86-65 by Boston’s starters.

The Bucks additionally missed Middleton’s protection.

What’s subsequent for the Celtics

Boston gained the season sequence, 2-1, in opposition to Warmth, taking the primary two video games (Nov. 4, Jan. 31) and dropping the ultimate one (March 30).

Although Miami is the highest seed and has home-court benefit, the Celtics might find yourself the favorites to win the sequence. Boston completed two video games behind Miami within the East however had a greater document than the Warmth from Jan. 1 by the top of the common season.

Each groups prefer to get after it defensively. Boston had the No. 1 protection and the Defensive Participant of the 12 months (Marcus Sensible) and Miami had the fourth-best defensive ranking with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo offering inside-outside protection.

Accidents are price watching. Warmth guard Kyle Lowry (strained left hamstring) missed 4 of the six video games in opposition to Philadelphia, together with the ultimate two video games, and Celtics heart Robert Williams (sore left knee) missed the ultimate 4 video games in opposition to Milwaukee.

Observe Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt