Conference Finals MVP Jimmy Butler posted 28 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a trio of steals – but small forward Caleb Martin shone with his third 20-plus point showing in the series. Erik Spoelstra’s Miami Heat ended Boston’s hopes of an improbable comeback, in TD Garden no less, setting up their second NBA Finals trip in four seasons as the Nuggets finally found out their opponent.
Better late than never, as Miami eventually get it done
- Game 7 result in Boston means it’s the first time in 24 years that an #8 seed has won the Eastern Conference Finals and gone to the NBA Finals
- Jayson Tatum plays through pain after spraining his ankle badly on the game’s first possession, he and All-Star teammate Jaylen Brown combine to shoot just 13-of-36 for 33 points during a frustrating end to their season
- “I have a lot of belief in our guys, I see it every single day… how good a team we are, made it happen. We stayed together, talked about getting a tough one on the road and that’s what we did,” Jimmy Butler postgame
It wasn’t pretty, they could and probably should have got the job done in four games like their upcoming opponents managed but none of that matters now.
Miami are headed back to the NBA Finals, staving off Boston’s almighty comeback – which included Derrick White’s gamewinning tip-in three days earlier – to punch their ticket into the league’s showpiece event. Those pre-booked Denver flights aged well.
This could’ve been much different, had Boston fed off their crowd’s energy early on and their primary scoring option not been jarringly hobbled from the very first play.
He drove to the basket and was fouled in the act of shooting but Jayson Tatum crucially landed awkwardly on Gabe Vincent’s leg in the aftermath. Replays showed he rolled his left ankle quite badly, and it caused a persistent pain throughout.
Repeatedly grimacing whenever he had to do sharp changes of movement or land on the hardwood after hoisting shots, it was an uncomfortable watch and everyone knew it would have a restrictive impact on Boston’s chances of success.
The 25-year-old led them in scoring during 13 of their 19 postseason games heading into this clash, and made more franchise history to keep the series going in Game 4 with his ninth career playoff 30/10/5 performance (points, rebounds, assists).
Miami too have injuries, with Tyler Herro (hand) and Victor Oladipo (knee) sidelined. Yet while their core group rally despite those absences, the Celtics couldn’t adapt when things weren’t working and were stuck trying too fast to arrest another slide.
4-for-21 on three-point attempts in the first-half, Joe Mazzulla’s side were reduced to just 41 points as a team with Miami up 11 and feeling good about themselves.
After a quiet first 12 minutes, Gabe Vincent hit a pair of second-quarter threes and assisted two baskets while Bam Adebayo – who struggled offensively – continued to show deft playmaking skills and hustle plays masking a disappointing display.
Malcolm Brogdon (elbow tendon tear) was playing injured, Al Horford’s deep-range shooting remained patchy while Marcus Smart couldn’t replicate his infectious exploits from Games 5 and 6, finishing with more shot attempts (10) than points (9).
All the noise surrounding Jaylen Brown’s contract situation only made his all-round showing even more painful: more turnovers (8) than Miami collectively until late in the fourth, alongside 19 points on 8-of-23 shooting, and 1-of-9 from three.
For better or worse, he didn’t stop trying.
Neither did Robert Williams III, whose scattergun minutes remains a question critics can’t truly understand, given the ferocity with which he was defending Jimmy Butler. Derrick White (18 pts) also emerged with credit.
Miami were worthy winners in the end, depleted squad and all, as Erik Spoelstra’s coaching experience paid dividends – like that winning knowhow of his veteran players: Kyle Lowry (7 pts, 7 rebs, five ast) and the aforementioned Butler.
“A lot of people can relate to this team, sometimes you have to suffer for the things you really want, inevitable failures but collective spirit to forge ahead, accomplish what you want to – we still have more. Have to tip our hats to Boston and their organisation, they made us get better. Last year was extremely painful, if you don’t have an opponent like that, sometimes you don’t get there.”
- Spoelstra’s postgame interview on court
Whether they’ll have enough to truly trouble Denver and make the NBA Finals an enthralling contest having gone the distance here, remains to be seen. All the evidence suggests not, but you’d be wise to exercise caution before doubting them.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes via TNT broadcast
Mo and Sports 