Miami, May 30 (BNA): The Miami Heat avoided becoming the first team to blow a 3-0 series lead in the NBA with a 103-84 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday.
After a dramatic defeat in the final seconds at home in Game 6 on Saturday, Miami got the win it needed at TD Park in Boston to reach the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets, with that series set to begin Thursday, Reuters reports.
Miami’s Jimmy Butler, who was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, struggled in Game 6, but returned to his best Monday with 28 points.
“I have a huge belief in myself, and this group of players know how good our team is and we’ve made it,” Butler said after receiving the Larry Bird MVP award.
“We stayed together as a team, we’re excited and happy, but we have four more (wins) to do.
Jaylen Brown had 19 points and Derrick White 18 for Boston, with the duo springing to life in the third quarter when it looked like the Celtics would come from behind again.
Boston’s Jason Tatum wasn’t quite fit and appeared to be limping after spraining his ankle in the opening seconds.
Miami became the second eighth-ranked team to reach the NBA Finals after the New York Knicks in 1999.
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