(Miami) The Boston Celtics have reached their first NBA Finals since 2010.
Posted yesterday at 11:50 p.m.
Jayson Tatum had 26 points, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart followed with 24 points apiece, and the Celtics survived a late Miami Heat surge to win 100-96 on Sunday night in the series finale.
Al Horford also contributed 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who never trailed en route to that road win.
The Celtics will have the heavy order to face the Golden State Warriors for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The series will begin Thursday in San Francisco.
Jimmy Butler, who helped the Heat force Game 7 with 47 points Friday in Boston, had 35 points in his final game of the season. Bam Adebayo added 25 points for the Heat, who tried to close an 11-point deficit with three minutes to go to triumph.
An unanswered nine-point streak saw the Heat close the gap to 98-96. With 17 seconds left, Butler attempted a three-pointer that flew off the basket – and the Celtics ran away with the win.
The Celtics, who went down in their last four Eastern Conference Finals before tonight, managed to hold on.
Kyle Lowry had 15 points for the Heat while Grant Williams finished with 11 points for the Celtics.