Celtics hold off Heat in Game 7, reach NBA Finals

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The Boston Celtics are advancing to the NBA Finals following a nail-biting 100 to 96 Game 7 victory over the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals Sunday night.

Celtics All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum walked away with the first ever Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player award named after Celtics legend Larry Bird.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum raises the NBA Eastern Conference MVP trophy after defeating the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series, Sunday, May 29, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Tatum finished the game with 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the series clinching win.

The Celtics received contributions across the board. Guards Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart chipped in with 24 points each, and backup big man Grant Williams had 11.

The Heat fell just short of their second finals appearance in three years. Guard Jimmy Butler delivered 35 points, nine rebounds and one assist in a losing effort.

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Boston narrowly closed out the Heat in a game that looked all but over with about two minutes remaining, but the Heat went on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to two. The Celtics would hang on down the stretch and come out with the win.

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) congratulates Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) after the Celtics won Game 7 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series, Sunday, May 29, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

"Today was the biggest test, not just of the year, but of our careers: to mentally come into a