Celtics advance to Eastern Conference Finals thanks to Jayson Tatum's record 51 points in Game 7

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Jayson Tatum scored 51 points – the most in a Game 7 in NBA history – and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 112-88, on Sunday to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight year.

One game after missing 14 of his first 15 shots only to awaken in the fourth quarter, Tatum got off to the fast start the Celtics needed. He scored 25 in the back-and-forth first half and 17 more in Boston’s 33-10 third quarter that turned a three-point lead into a runaway.

The Celtics, who lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals last year, will face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, which begin Wednesday in Boston.

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Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics celebrates a basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden on May 14, 2023, in Boston. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Tatum added 13 rebounds and Jaylen Brown scored 25 points for the Celtics, who rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the best-of-seven series to keep alive their hopes for an unprecedented 18th NBA championship. Tatum was subbed out of the game with three minutes left to a standing ovation from the crowd, which soon broke out in a "Beat the Heat!" chant.

Newly crowned NBA MVP Joel Embiid scored 15 points on 5-for-18 shooting, and Tobias Harris scored 19 for Philadelphia. The Sixers lost in the conference semifinals for the third straight year and the fifth time in six seasons; they have not gotten any farther since reaching the NBA Finals in 2001.

Tatum started 0 for 6 in a Game 5 loss and missed 14 of his first 15