The Miami Heat topped the Boston Celtics 103-84 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on Monday night. The Heat captured the Eastern Conference title being the lowest seed in the NBA Playoffs as they won the best-of-seven series 4-3.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, who will guide Miami to his sixth NBA Finals, now has a 5-3 record in Game 7 matchups. Miami won three road games in Boston during the seven-game series. The Heat had never been victorious in three away contests in one postseason series. In addition, Miami won a Game 7 playoff game on the road for the first time in franchise history.
They became just the second eighth-seeded club to appear in the NBA Finals since the NBA Playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1984. It was the first time that an eighth seed advanced to the NBA Finals since the New York Knicks in 1999.
The NBA Finals will begin on Thursday night as the Miami Heat visit the Denver Nuggets. The Heat will be playing in the NBA Finals for the second time in four seasons and for the seventh time in franchise history. The Celtics became the fourth club in NBA history to come back from a 3-0 series deficit, win three straight games to tie the best-of-seven series and lose Game 7.
Boston scored the first five points of the contest and were up 9-4. Miami went on an 18-6 run to lead 22-15 at the end of the first quarter. Miami got the first five points and 11 of the first 14 points of the second to go ahead 33-18 at the 8:32 mark. The C's cut it down to an eight-point margin 47-39 with 1:49 left in the first half, but the Heat remained ahead 52-41 at halftime.
The Heat began the second half with an 7-2 spurt. The Celtics bounced back and closed it to 66-59 with 3:33 to go in the third. Miami held a 76-66 advantage at the end of the third quarter. The Heat got the first seven points of the final frame to lead by 17 points 83-66 at the 10:50 mark. The Celtics then trailed by 23 points 96-73 with 5:33 remaining in the fourth.
Jimmy Butler, who was named the Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player, had a game-high 28 points along with seven rebounds and six assists. Caleb Martin contributed a double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Bam Adebayo was able to add 17 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Gabe Vincent and Duncan Robinson poured in 10 points each.
The Celtics got 14 points and 11 rebounds from Jayson Tatum for a double-double. Jaylen Brown compiled 19 points and eight rebounds in the defeat. Derrick White, who made the buzzer-beating shot in Game 6, ended up with 18 points.
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