Celtics-Heat score, takeaways: Boston survives Miami rally, heads to NBA Finals after wire-to-wire Game 7 win

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Jimmy Butler on final 3-point attempt: ‘My thought process was go for the win’

Although Boston controlled most of the game, Miami managed to cut the lead down to two points with 50 seconds left. The Heat then had an opportunity to either tie the game or take the lead after Butler grabbed a long rebound and pushed the ball in transition. Butler opted to pull up for a 3-pointer, but it missed and Boston was able to clinch the game.

Butler’s 3-pointer had mixed reactions, considering he hasn’t been the most reliable 3-point shooter throughout his career. After the game, when asked about the play, Butler said he was trying to go for the win. “My thought process was go for the win…my teammates like the shot that I took so I’m living with it.”

May 30, 2022, 4:36 AM

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Tatum: ‘They said we couldn’t play together’

Following their Game 7 win over the Heat to advance to the NBA Finals, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown embraced in a moment of celebration, and Tatum could be seen saying “they said we couldn’t play together.” Tatum was referencing the many times people around the league have talked about how the Celtics may not be able to win with both Tatum and Brown. While Boston has never come close to trading either player, it’s been a topic of discussion every time the Celtics fall short in the playoffs. Now, though, Boston is heading to the NBA Finals thanks to the performances of both Tatum and Brown.

May 30, 2022, 4:30 AM

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Heat down to one timeout

The Heat just used a timeout to challenge a call on Kyle Lowry, which they got overturned. However, they then had to immediately burn another one because Lowry fell down and was about to be tied up. Now the Heat are down to one timeout remaining with nine minutes on the clock.

May 30, 2022, 2:56 AM

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Herro done for the night?

Ahead of Game 7 the Heat announced that Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro would be available. Right before tip Herro said that he isn’t 100 percent healthy but that he would give it his all when called upon. Well, so far tonight he’s only gotten six minutes of run time, all of which came in the second quarter. He didn’t play at all in the third quarter, and it makes you wonder if his night may be done.

Herro went 0-2 from the field in the six minutes he was on the floor, and with how important this game is it wouldn’t be surprising to not see him out here again tonight. If Herro was 100 percent healthy Spoelstra surely would’ve thrown him back out there again, as his playmaking and scoring have been crucial all season long for the Heat. But his limited playing time suggests that his groin injury is limiting his ability on the court.

May 30, 2022, 2:50 AM

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Iron Man Jimmy

Here’s a crazy stat that you may not have realized: Jimmy Butler has played every minute of this game. That’s insane, and while you expect your best players to be ready to go the full game with a shot at the NBA Finals on the time, I don’t think there’s many in the league who could do what Butler is doing right now, while also putting forth the performance we’re seeing from him so far.

Butler’s up to 33 points on 63.2 percent from the field, and when Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was asked ahead of the fourth quarter if Butler would play the final 12 minutes as well, he said “probably, yeah. It’s go time.” Regardless of how this game ends, you have to respect Butler for leaving it all out there tonight.

May 30, 2022, 2:45 AM

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Script flips at free throw line

The Celtics weren’t perfect that quarter, but they did clean up all the fouling that doomed them in the second quarter. Miami only took two free throws in the third — one was off a defensive three-second violation, another off a Kyle Lowry and-1. Boston on the other hand went 7-for-8 from the line and spent the last few minutes in the bonus.

May 30, 2022, 2:41 AM

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End of third quarter: Celtics 82 — Heat 75

It was a pretty clunky end to the quarter, but Boston still holds an edge entering the final 12 minutes of game 7. The Celtics got great production out of Tatum, Brown and Smart, who combined for 23 of Boston’s 27 points. But Miami is still chipping away at the lead, thanks to strong performances from Lowry and Adebayo out of halftime. Boston is up seven, but this is still anyone’s game entering the fourth quarter.

May 30, 2022, 2:40 AM

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Jays keep it going in the second half

In Game 6, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each got off to a good start, but they barely did anything in the second half, which was a big factor in the Celtics’ loss. Tonight, they once again excelled in the first half, but the difference so far is that they’ve kept it going after the break. The duo have 12 of the Celtics’ 23 third-quarter points so far

May 30, 2022, 2:31 AM

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Jaylen, Jayson can play with others

Last couple of Celtics possessions: Jayson Tatum gets to the rim, finds Jaylen Brown for an easy layup; Brown attacks Bam Adebayo on a switch and makes a crosscourt pass to Marcus Smart for a 3. Brown and Tatum have five assists apiece, and Boston as a team has 16 assists on 26 made field goals. That’s what Ime Udoka wants, and it’s particularly impressive because it hasn’t come with a side of horrible turnovers. (Miami, meanwhile, has only five assists on its 20 made field goals. It’s been a lot of ISO stuff for the Heat, and a lot of free throws.)

May 30, 2022, 2:21 AM

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The Smart way

The Celtics entered the second half clinging onto a six-point lead, but it felt like momentum was shifting in Miami’s favor especially with how frequently the Heat were getting to the free-throw line. But then comes Marcus Smart, who has nine points in the third quarter, including one hail mary 3-pointer that saved what was an otherwise ugly possession by Boston. Smart’s up to 18 points on the night on 7 of 12 from the field and 3 of 6 from beyond the arc.

May 30, 2022, 2:21 AM

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Strus’ 3 taken away

Early in the second quarter, Max Strus hit a 3-pointer from the corner that rolled around the rim, hit the backboard and went in. However, it turned out that he stepped out of bounds before the shot, and the refs retroactively took it off the board. That’s a huge swing

May 30, 2022, 2:15 AM

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In the mud

Miami completely changed the feel of this game in the second quarter by getting in the bonus early and then repeatedly getting to the free throw line. Boston had 13 fast break points in the first quarter and ZERO in the second — it’s hard to score in transition when the opponent is getting to the line on practically every possession. (Miami only committed one live-ball turnover in the second quarter, and that didn’t even lead to a transition opportunity for the Celtics.)

May 30, 2022, 2:05 AM

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End of second quarter: Celtics 55 — Heat 49

The Celtics built up a 17-point lead in the second quarter, but the Heat ended the quarter on an 11-2 run and cut Boston’s lead down to single digits. It’s shocking that Miami is only down six points given the start they had to this game. Boston was the clear aggressor in the first quarter: getting out in transition and playing tough defense on the other end. However, the Celtics put the Heat in the bonus with seven minutes remaining in the second quarter, and Miami did a great job of drawing contact and getting to the line. Butler alone went 7 of 10 from the free-throw line, en route to 18 second-quarter points in the process.

May 30, 2022, 1:54 AM

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The Jays leading the way

Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals is the time for your big players to show up, and that’s just what Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are doing for the Celtics. The duo has combined for 23 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists already. Celtics will need them to keep it up in the second half, though.

May 30, 2022, 1:40 AM

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Miami starting to live at the line

Uh-oh for Boston: Miami’s already in the bonus with seven minutes to go in the first half. It would be an understatement to say the Celtics are having trouble defending Jimmy Butler without fouling right now — he’s 5 for 6 from the line in the second quarter.

May 30, 2022, 1:33 AM

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Heat need more out of their role players

Of the Heat’s 27 points, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo account for all but five points. While Butler has carried over his standout performance from Game 6 where he put up 47 points, and Adebayo is looking more aggressive to start out the game, Miami won’t be able to win this game if Max Strus, Victor Oladipo and P.J. Tucker can’t knock in some buckets. Depending on how healthy Tyler Herro is, some scoring help from him would also be a boost for Miami.

May 30, 2022, 1:29 AM

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Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy

Jimmy Butler is keeping Miami in this right now — he has played every second of this game and scored 10 of the Heat’s last 12 points. I don’t know if he’ll have another historic performance tonight, but he has points on 5-for-8 shooting, has made all four of his free throw attempts and has not committed a single turnover.

May 30, 2022, 1:29 AM

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Herro checks in

Tyler Herro missed the last three games due to a groin strain, but pushed to be available to play today. But while he was declared available, it wasn’t clear how much he’d actually get in. He didn’t play at all in the first quarter, but with the Heat trailing by double digits early, Erik Spoelstra put Herro in at the beginning of the second to try and give the team a spark.

May 30, 2022, 1:21 AM

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End of first quarter: Celtics 32 — Heat 17

The Celtics played a near perfect quarter to open this game. They forced turnovers, got out in transition and are putting together a balanced offensive attack. The 8-0 run to end the quarter is nice cushioning as the Heat will surely adjust and shake off some nerves in the second quarter. Speaking of Miami, what a rough start. Kyle Lowry picked up two senseless fouls, the Heat have committed four turnovers, and through the first six minutes they looked like they were sleepwalking through the game. They’ll have to flip a switch if they want to get back in this game and earn a berth in the NBA Finals because it’s been all Celtics so far.

May 30, 2022, 1:14 AM

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Horford comes up with incredible block

Al Horford hasn’t been putting up big numbers this series, but he’s still a huge part of the Celtics’ defense. He proved as much once again in the first quarter tonight when he came up with an incredible block on Max Strus. The Heat forward thought he had a dunk, but Horford thought otherwise.

May 30, 2022, 1:05 AM

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Celtics doing it by committee

Seven Celtics have played, and everyone except for Robert Williams III has made a field goal already. Also, nobody has made more than one field goal. Now that’s what you call balanced offense! (Another encouraging sign for Boston: four of their six field goals have been assisted.)

May 30, 2022, 12:59 AM

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Kyle Lowry’s two early fouls could be trouble for Miami

We’re only halfway through the first quarter and Lowry has already picked up two fouls in this game. Both were costly mistakes for Lowry and the Heat, especially in a win-or-go-home Game 7. Lowry had a bounce-back performance in Game 6 (18 points, 10 assists) to help force a Game 7, however he fouled out of that game in the fourth quarter. If he’s not careful tonight, he could find himself in the same position again. Miami can’t afford to lose someone as important as Lowry, even if he’s struggled heavily at times in this series.

May 30, 2022, 12:59 AM

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Celtics getting out and running

During the pre-game show, the broadcast played a clip of Celtics head coach Ime Udoka urging the team to play fast tonight. So far, they’re doing just that. They’re looking to push on the first opportunity, and have already scored seven fastbreak points — as many as the Heat have in total. Big for the Celtics to get some easy looks before the Heat can set their defense

May 30, 2022, 12:56 AM

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Boston starting aggressive out of the gate

Game 7’s can sometimes lead to teams starting off pretty poorly due to nerves setting in. But the Celtics aren’t having an issue putting points on the board as they’re 5 of 9 to start the game and 2 of 4 from deep. Plenty of basketball left to be played, but you couldn’t ask for a better start for Boston on the road here.

May 30, 2022, 12:54 AM

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Tyler Herro not 100 percent healthy, but preparing to play

Herro, who has missed the last three games of the series for the Heat, is expected to be available in Game 7 tonight. However, the Sixth Man of the Year says that he’s not 100 percent healed from his groin injury but will “give it his all” when called upon.

May 30, 2022, 12:48 AM

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More Game 7 nuggets and notes

-Boston is 25-9 all-time in Game 7s, which is the most wins by any team.

-The Celtics seek their first Game 7 road win since the 1974 NBA Finals. They have lost four consecutive Game 7s away from Boston.

-Erik Spoelstra is 4-0 all-time at home in Game 7s.

-This will be the second time the Celtics and Heat square off in a conference finals Game 7. Miami, led by LeBron James (31 points, 12 rebounds) won 101-88 at home in 2012.

May 29, 2022, 11:20 PM

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Celtics know how to bounce back after losses

Boston is 5-0 following a defeat this postseason, with an average win margin of 17.8 points. It’s also bounced back twice vs. Miami this series with lopsided wins following a loss. Jayson Tatum has averaged 32.6 points on 51 percent shooting in five games following a loss this postseason.

May 29, 2022, 11:19 PM

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Both head coaches eyeing history with win

The Heat’s Erik Spoelstra can become the seventh head coach with six Finals appearances, joining Phil Jackson (13), Red Auerbach (11), Pat Riley (nine), Gregg Popovich (six), John Kundla (six) and Steve Kerr (six). As for Ime Udoka, a Celtics victory would make him the first rookie head coach in NBA history to win multiple Game 7s (Boston beat the Bucks 109-81 in Game 7 earlier in the East semis).

May 29, 2022, 11:18 PM

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NBA Finals berth on the line

The Heat seek their second trip to the NBA Finals since 2020. The Celtics look to get back for the first time since 2010. Both teams ended up losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in their last Finals appearances.

May 29, 2022, 11:17 PM

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