Saving its best for last

Miami whips Boston in Game 7, reaches NBA Finals

BOSTON – Jimmy Butler played a starring role as the Miami Heat advanced to the NBA Finals by routing Boston, 103-84, on Monday, denying the Celtics a historic comeback after trailing the playoff series 3-0.

Butler had 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists while Caleb Martin added 26 points and 10 rebounds to spark Miami, which will visit Denver on Thursday (Friday Manila time) to begin the best-of-seven championship final.

Miami recovered from a gut-punch of a Game 6 defeat, where it fell on a last-second tip-in, to win the Eastern Conference finals, 4-3, silencing a loud Boston crowd.

Taking full advantage of an ankle injury to Boston star Jayson Tatum in the opening seconds and a cold-shooting Celtics start, the Heat avoided becoming the first team in 151 attempts to lose a playoff series after leading, 3-0.

“We stayed together as a group,” Butler said. “We talked about going to get a tough one on the road and we did just that. But we’re not satisfied. We’re happy. We’re ecstatic. But we’ve got one more to get.”

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said he never doubted his resilient squad could win Game 7.

“Sometimes you have to suffer for the things you really want,” he said. “This group has shown fortitude when there are inevitable let-downs and failures, but had that perseverance to pick yourself up, that collective spirit to keep on forging ahead.”

The Heat, seeking a fourth NBA title and first since 2013, last reached the NBA Finals in 2020, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Nuggets, into the NBA Finals for the first time, swept the Lakers in the Western Conference finals, 4-0.

Tatum, who finished with 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting, turned his left ankle landing awkwardly after a baseline jumper in the opening seconds.

“It swelled up,” Tatum said. “I was like a shell of myself. It was tough to move.”