Celtics hang on against relentless Butler, Heat; win Game 7 to advance to NBA Finals

The Boston Celtics never trailed in Game 7, leading by as many as 17, and they are headed to the NBA Finals.

But — in a manner fitting Boston’s season — it was never easy.

Boston raced out to a 24-9 lead, but Miami always hung around. That’s because for more than three quarters, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo muscled the Heat into the game without much help around them. Jayson Tatum and the Celtics attacked with ball movement and balance; the Heat were brute force.

Echoing his Game 6 performance, Butler was the best player on the court — finishing with 35 points — and the Heat were getting their buckets in the paint because of Butler and Adebayo’s physicality. Butler played the full 48 minutes and unsurprisingly his legs went — in the middle of the fourth quarter the Celtics went on an 8-0 run as the Heat missed nine shots row. Boston led by double digits and was in control.

And then suddenly they weren’t. Miami went on an 11-0 run late, with Max Strus making it a two-point game.

MAX STRUS DRAINS A HUGE 3

WIN or GO HOME Game 7 on ESPN pic.twitter.com/cl0Z8QMOCT

— NBA (@NBA) May 30, 2022

Then Butler had a chance to tie or win it — and on brand he went for the win. His legs just weren’t there.

Jimmy Butler ALMOST gave Miami the lead here