Boston Celtics 100 vs 96 Miami Heat summary: stats, and highlights | Game 7 Eastern Conference Finals
The Boston Celtics held off a late charge by the Miami Heat to win Game 7 and advance to their first NBA Finals since 2010. Jayson Tatum led the way with 26 points in the 100-96 victory at FTX Arena.
Celtics still undefeated after a lossthis postseason
The Celtics had a chance to close out the series in Game 6 back in Boston, but Jimmy Butler had one of the night’s of his life to keep Miami alive for another day.
Boston came into the night undefeated after a loss this postseason and stretched that five game streak to six on Sunday night.
It looked like it was going to get out of hand early as the Celtics started the first quarter hot. The lead extended to 15 points in the first 12 minutes after great shooting starts from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Butler sensational again in elimination game
Jimmy Butler almost single handily kept the Heat in the game during the first half scoring 24 points and giving Miami a fighting chance in the second half. He carried the Heat in the previous game, and did so again in Game 7. He and Kyle Lowry triggered an 11-2 run at the end of the second quarter that would bring the Boston lead to 55-49 at the break.
Miami were able to cut the lead all the way down to two in the early part of the third quarter when Max Strus hit a corner three to send FTX Arena into eruption.
The roars of the Miami crowd were short lived as Boston went on a 16-4 run, but the Heat weren’t done. After entering the fourth down seven, the Heat hit two quick buckets to dwindle the lead down to three with over ten minutes left in the game. Again the Celtics responded with an 8-0 run to silence the Heat faithful.
Boston holds off late Miami charge
Miami went cold mid way through the final quarter, failing to score in over four and a half minutes, but they threw one final punch at the end of the game. Lowry and Strus brought the Heat back to life in the final three minutes of the game scoring 11 unanswered to bring Miami to within two points.
Jimmy Butler had a chance to take the lead with under 20 seconds left, but missed the pull up three and Marcus Smart went to the line to make it a two possession game. Butler’s 35 point Game 7 performance would come up short.
Smart the Defensive Player of the Year, came up big in the biggest game of the year. He had 24, 9 rebound and 5 assists along with Tatum’s 26 and Jaylen Brown’s 24.
The Celtics are back in the NBA Finals since the Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce era and will face up against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco in Game 1. Tip off is set for Thursday at 9 p.m. ET from the Chance Center.
The job is not done for the Celtics, but how sweet it is to be in the Finals for a team that was under .500 at the turn of the new year.
The Boston Celtics are going back to the NBA Finals after over a decade wait.
When in doubt, in the fourth quarter with the shot clock winding down, there's only one Celtic to call on. Jayson Tatum.
If you didn't know how good Jaylen Brown was before this series, now you know.
Tatum came alive when he had to. He didn't have the best of games, but he was the calming presence when Boston needed him.
Marcus Smart willl always be known for his defense, but he had 24 points in the biggest game of the year.
Brown and Tatum got things going for the Celtics. Brown had 15 at the half while Tatum had 13.
Derrick White has been spectacular all series long, he finished with a modest 8 points but his contributions were essential to Boston advancing.
Boston came out hot, but it was their defense that sparked a lot of the easy baskets in the first quarter.
The Celtics go wire to wire in Game 7 on the road and best the top seed in the East.
IT'S ALL OVER!!! BOSTON IS GOING BACK TO THE NBA FINALS!!!
Smart to the line and he hits two big FTs!!! Two possession game with 11.4 to go.
Strus out of the timeout with a three and the Heat are on a 11-0 run.!
Miami ball after unsuccessful challenge
Lowry to the rack and we have a five point game. 50 seconds to go in Miami.
Oladipo puts it on the deck and gets the lay up. BOS wasn't to concerned defending him on that possession.
Under 2 left in Miami.
Strus out of nowhere!! He sneaks in and gets the tip slam to go. 2:30 to go
3:00 to go.
Lowry with a mid range jumper. Miami needs stops now.
Smart to the line after the Butler foul. Both FTs good for Smart.
4:00 to go from Miami.
Brown to the line and he hits one of two.
Tatum gets the inbound with 2 seconds on the clock and he drills the mid range jumper.
4:30 to go in the final quarter.
Butler back to the rack and he's got 35 on the night. He may have got away with an offensive foul stretching his arm into the chest of Horford.
Adebayo back down low and he gets it to go.
Tatum with a hand in his face, but still manages to drop the three ball.
Oladipo in the paint to break the 4:30 minute scoreless spell.
Smart across the land and across his body with the floater.
Miami has missed their last 9 shots.
Horford with a big bucket out of the timeout to stretch the lead to 9.
Timeout with 9:18 to go as the Lowry blocking foul is overturned. Brown picks up with 4th on the charge.
White goes down after catching an elbow from the leaping Adebayo. The play is reviewed and deemed a normal foul.
Tatum down low to Williams and the lead is up to 7.
Tatum at the line and he hits two of two. He's got 21 on the night.
Great start to the fourth quarter for the Heat. Timeout BOS with 10:56 to go in the fourth.
Butler with another strong drive, and he gets the bucket to go in heavy traffic under the rim.
Vincent over `Williams on the lob and he hits Adebayo for the alley oop
The third quarter comes to an end as Lowry misses a buzz beating lay up. We have 12 more minutes to decide a winner here from Miami.
Lowry finding Butler for the slam and he's got 31.
Brown putting the ball on the deck, lowers his head and goes to the iron for the lay up.
Lowry showing shades of his prime! He gets the floater and the foul! FT is good and Lowry has 11.
Horford misses the three and barely skimming the rim, but Williams is there to snag the rebound and put back the miss.
Lowry out of the timeout, off the screen and drills the pull up three.
Tatum cutting to the basket and he gets the lay up to go after catching Lowry flat footer. Timeout Heat with 3:21 to go in the third.
Brown is taking the Celtics on his shoulders in clutch time. He gets the tough bucket to go around the iron. He's got 21 points.
Butler blowing past Tatum and getting the finger roll to go.
Strus steps in front of Brown and is called for a block. BOS in the bonus and Brown hits two of two.
Oladipo for three!!! This FTX Arena just erupted and BOS needs a timeout after a 7-0 run from the Heat. 5:16 to go in the third quarter.
Adebayo in transition and Lowry feeds the big man on his way to the basket.
Butler out of the timeout in the paint, and hits the turn around jumper.
BOS is on a 16-4 run since the lead was cut to 2.
Smart in the corner for three and he's got 9 of his 18 in this quarter. Timeout Heat with 6:45 to go in the third quarter.
Adebayo hits the jumper as the shot clock was winding down.
Brown at the rack after the Tatum assist. That's his first bucket of the second half.
Adebayo again down low and the Heat have found something they like down low with Adebayo.
Williams at the line and he hits two of two.
The Strus three a couple minutes ago has been wiped off the board after review shows he stepped out of bounds.
Adebayo using that strength and length to get it to go down low.
Tatum dashing to the rack and he needed to see the ball go in the basket.
Butler hits the FT after a defensive 3 second was called against BOS.
Smart with a bail out three in the corner after some choppy offense from Boston.
Tatum at the line after being fouled by Strus. He hits both.
Smart going strong to the rack and gets the lay up to go.
Strus in the corner for three!!! He's got two of those and the lead has been cut to two.
Smart at the line and he hits one of two.
Adebayo gets the second half going with a jumper in the lane. He's got 13 on the night.
We are back in action from Miami!! 24 minutes to determine who is going to the NBA Finals.
Butler has been sensational over the last 6 quarters. He helped the Heat spark an 11-2 run at the end of the first half.
Bam and Butler led the charge for the Heat in the second quarter.
Miami was guilty of coming out a bit flat in the early going, especailly on the defensive side.
White has been specatcular this series, and is continuing his good form with 8 points tonight.
The Celtics used great defense to lead to easy offense in the opening of the game.
Brown has 15 to lead the Celtics, while Tatum has been contained with 13.
Butler leads all scorers with 24 and is having another fantastic performance in an elimination game. Adebayo is having a nice night with 11 and 8 rebounds.
Miami end the half on an 11-2 run. It seemed like Boston dominated that half, but they lead by just 6.
Lowry to the line and he hits both. That's it for the first half of play from Miami.
Lowry to the line and he hits two of two.
Adebayo to the FT line, and he hits one of two.
Brown some how gets the floater to drop after some great defense by the Heat.
Butler drops a three ball on the pull up!! We have a single digit game in Miami! Timeout with 1:26 to go in the second quarter.
Strus gets a three ball to go. His shooting struggles have been well documented this series, but broke out of his slump last game.
2:12 to go in the first half.
Tatum drops a three ball! He's got three 3s tonight.
Butler posting up White and turning, fading and making the jumper. He's got 21.
Oladipo money with the FT line jumper. That's his first bucket off the bench.
Butler back at the line where he misses both.
White bangs home another threee ball!!! How important has he been in this series? He's got 8 tonight.
Butler at the line again and he hits both FTs.
Brown back to the line after the Tucker foul. Both FTs good for Brown. He's got 13 on the night.
Tatum finds Smart wide open in the paint and he hits the floater. Timeout Heat with 5:18 to go in the second quarter.
Tatum down main street, absorbs the bump and gets the lay up. FT is no good.
Adebayo down low getting his own rebound and the put back goes.
Butler back in the paint and he drops it
Smart to the rack and he finishes at the rim.
Foul on Smart, and the Heat are in the bonus with 7:03 to go. Butler hits one of two from the line.
Timeout Boston with 7:21 to go in the second quarter.
Butler back to the iron gets the bucket and the foul!!! He's getting to the rim whenever he wants. FT is good
Smart spinning, stopping and hitting in the lane. 39-24
Adebayo showing the strength and he finishes despite the foul on Williams. FT is not good.
Brown from downtown! He's got 11 on 4-6 shooting.
Butler to the line and he hits two of two to become the first in double digits in this Game 7.
Butler through the paint, sweeping from left to right, gets the roll on the floater and the foul. FT is good and Butler has 9 points.
Brown through the legs and gets to the iron for the lay up. He's got 8.
The 15 point margin to end the first quarter was the largest in Celtics Game 7 history (35 games)
Brown on the floater and that will take us to the end of the first quarter! The Celtics end the opening 12 minutes on an 8-0 run.
Tatum with the pull up three ball and he's got two of those already. 8 points for the Celtics star already.
White with a three ball! He went off in the fourth quarter, and looks to still have the hot hand tonight.
Butler back down White and gets the jump hook to go and Miami are on an 8-0 run.
Vincente hits the FT out of the timeout to complete the three point play
Vincent from the top of the key for three and the foul!!! Timeout Boston with 2:13 to go in the first quarter. Vincent at the line when we return.
Butler taking Horford down low after a mad back and forth scramble for possession. He's got 4 on the night.
Smart to Williams with another easy lay up underneath and the lead is 15 already.
Horford with a HUGE block and that leads to an easy lay up on the other end for Williams.
Adebayo on the reverse, and he looks in the mood tonight, which is great news for the Heat.
Tatum off the dribble and he drills the three! BOS is on an 8-0 run.
Williams at the line after the timeout and he hits his and 1.
Williams going hard to the rack and he will force a timeout from the Heat with 6:42 to go in the first quarter.
White off the bench on gets on the score board. He had his best game in a Celtics jersey last game. How can he follow it up tonight?
Adebayo with the tip slam off of the blocked Butler lay up. That's two quick buckets for Adebayo who had 31 earlier this series.
Adebayo down low and he needs to be huge tonight.
Horford with the open three ball and Boston starting hot behind the arc.
Butler sneaks in for the steal and the score! He's on the board after posting 47 last game.
Smart drills a three ball off the dribble, and if he can produce on the offensive end tonight the Celtics will be almost unbeatable.
Lowry to the line and he hits one of two.
Brown back to the bucket and the Celtics lead by 6. Miami is still scoreless two minutes in.
Brown getting to the rack early in transition. Boston's two stars on the board early.
Tatum with the opening points of the night, getting the offensive rebound and put back.
We are underway from Miami!!! 48 minutes to decide who is going on to the NBA Finals.
`Tonight's odds
The Celtics are the slight favorite to win this one on the road. They are favored by 2.5 points eith thr Over/Under set at 195.5. I have liked the Celtics in this series all the way through, so why change now? I think they win it tonight and get back to the Finals for the first time in over a decade.
Strus and Lowry both had important outings in Game 6 to aid Jimmy Butler and the Heat to victory. Who will step up tonight for Miami at FTX Arena.
Marcus Smart and Robert Williams arre both back in the starting five for Bostonn tonight in Game 7. They will be a big presence on the defensive side
This is big news for the Heat. Tyler Herro is warming up with the intention to play tonight accoring to Miami's medical staff. He has nissed the last three games with a groin injury.
The Heat are facing elimination for the second time this series, while the Celtics have been in a Game 7 before this post season. Miami survived Game 6 to force tonight, and the Celtics outlasted the Bucks in Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Tatum talks Game 7
Jayson Tatum has been the man for the Celtics all season long, and they will need him tonight in this do-or-die Game 7. "It's no secret," Tatum said. "It's Game 7, trip to the NBA Finals, a lot on the line. A couple of us have been in this situation before, so we know what's at stake. We know how much this means to everybody."
Butler speaks after historic Game 6
Jimmy Butler has been off and on this series, but when his team needed him the most, the Heat's leading scorer delivered in Game 6. "They've got so much belief in me," Butler said. "The players and coaches have so much belief in me that they just give me that confidence to go out there and play basketball the right way and just hoop."
The Celtics rolling up to FTX Arena, all about their buisness. The drip is there, all that's missing for Boston is a Game 7 win.
Game 4 recap
Jimmy Butler finally resurfaced in the series after a rough three games. Butler averaged 9 ppg in Games 3, 4, and 5, but came to life in Miami’s biggest game of the season. It was a historic playoff performance, especially when you consider it came in an eliminations game. Butler went for 47 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists to earn the Heat a chance to close out the series at home. Derrick White led a fourth quarter charge that was almost worthy of a comeback in the fourth quarter, but Butler and Miami held off Boston to bring us to a deciding game tonight.
We are live from Miami
Hello everyone and welcome to Miami for this do or die matchup that will determine the second finalist in the NBA Finals. The Celtics were in prime position to close out the series at home on Friday, but the Heat forced a seventh and final game.
Celtics vs. Heat Game 7
It’s all or nothing tonight in Miami as the Heat and the Boston Celtics will battle for a spot in the 2022 NBA Finals. AS English will have you covered all night with live updates, scores, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s Game 7 from FTX Arena.