Miami Heat Vanquish Boston Celtics in Game 7

The Celtics were seeking to become the first NBA team to overcome a 3-0 playoff deficit. They won three games in a row and had a home game to try and make history. Teams that fall behind 3-0 in NBA playoff series are now 0-151.

The cause was derailed early when superstar Jayson Tatum turned his ankle on the first play of the game.

The Heat outscored Boston 22-15 in the first quarter. It equaled the Celtics’ lowest output of the season.

The only quarter the Celtics enjoyed a scoring advantage was the third, and that was 25-24.

Miami finished with a flourish, outscoring Boston 27-18, over the final 12 minutes to close out the series.

The 84 points scored by Boston were a season-low .

MIAMI IS THE FIRST PLAY-IN TEAM TO MAKE THE NBA FINALS 🔥

THAT’S HEAT CULTURE‼️ pic.twitter.com/qOWchkX5ii

— ESPN (@espn) May 30, 2023

The Heat will play the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals. Game 1 is Thursday night in the Mile High City.

The schedule:

The NBA Finals, a best-of-seven series, are set to commence on June 1. Here’s the schedule breakdown:

• Game 1: Thursday, June 1 | 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 2: Sunday, June 4 | 8 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 3: Wednesday, June 7 | 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 4: Friday, June 9 | 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 5*: Monday, June 12 | 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 6*: Thursday, June 15 | 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 7*: Sunday, June 18 | 8 p.m. ET (ABC) (*if necessary)

In tough irony for the city of Boston, both the Bruins and Celtics were eliminated from the postseason by eighth seeds. The Florida Panthers bounced the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins. A franchise a bit further South, the Heat toppled the Celtics.

Boston becomes first city to lose a home Game 7 to an 8-seed in both hockey and basketball in the same season.

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) May 30, 2023

Caleb Martin has scored 132 points in the Conference Finals (through 23 tonight).

He has passed John Starks in the 1994 NBA Finals (124) for the most points in a Conference or NBA Finals by an undrafted player in the Modern Draft Era (since 1966-67). pic.twitter.com/mu4yvoAxEx

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 30, 2023

The series odds from BetUS: