Miami Heat took Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, putting an end to a potential Boston Celtics comeback. With that win, Miami advances to the NBA Finals and has the opportunity to claim the championship after 10 years.
Butler is key to Heat's success
Boston was a heavy favorite in Game 1 because it started at home, and the first upset came with Miami's series-opening win at the hands of an inspired Jimmy Butler. In Game 2, also played at TD Garden, the Heat pulled off the big upset after trailing all game with another outstanding comeback by Jimmy. The Celtics finally found their rhythm in Game 4, but couldn't sustain it until the end.
Butler, MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals, once again showed his scoring skills by registering a personal-best 28 points, including 9 double-doubles, 3 three-pointers and 1-2 in free throws. In addition to scoring, he also grabbed 7 rebounds, dished out 6 assists and recorded 3 steals. On the other hand, Caleb Martin was also instrumental in his team's victory with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists to his name.
The Celtics were unable to give their fans an exciting performance that would have allowed them to turn things around after losing the first three games. However, Derrick White did a decent job on the perimeter and made an important play with just a tenth of a second left in the game.
Jaylen Brown dominated the basketball court for the Heat with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in 43 minutes. Meanwhile, Miami showed the poise and calm they lacked at the Kaseya Center. The team showed cohesive coordination with a 50% success rate, nailing 14 of 28 three-point shots. Their exceptional play allowed them to maintain total control throughout the game.
Despite Boston's struggles from beyond the arc (9 of 42 on three-pointers), the team managed to maintain a ten-point lead over its opponent at the end of the third quarter (66-76). However, their hopes of a comeback faded with the start of the final period, during which the Heat established a 7-0 sprint that secured their victory.
New predictions for winning the ring, according to ESPN:
Miami Heat: 11%.
Denver Nuggets: 89%.
👀👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/YarivaGesS
- Pasion Basket (@PasionBasketNBA) May 30, 2023
Let the battle begin
The NBA Finals will begin on Thursday, June 1 and may continue through June 18, the day Game 7 is scheduled to take place. If the Heat and Nuggets play like the Heat and Celtics did, this could be a long series.
Heat center Bam Adebayo rejoiced over his team's advancement to the NBA Finals on Monday. His mind was consumed by thoughts of the upcoming game against Serbian star Nikola Jokic, the Western Conference Finals MVP he knows he must contain.
The tally for Jokic, who has won the title of two-time NBA MVP, sees a career tally of 105 three-pointers with a score of eight in this current playoff season. He is a standout as a core player for the Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.
The Nuggets clinched a spot in the Finals after their strong 4-0 record against the Lakers. This was a historic event, as they were competing for their first championship ring. Meanwhile, the Heat, under the leadership of head coach Erik Spoelstra, have flourished despite never being favorites: for Adebayo, this is a compliment to the team's ability.