After coming close to the feat, they finally cracked. The Boston Celtics failed to make the most incredible comeback in NBA history by losing Monday, May 29, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Miami Heat (103-84) .
The Massachusetts franchise won’t be the first in North American basketball league history to win a playoff series after losing the first three games, a feat that one hundred and fifty teams before them also broke their teeth on. . The disillusion is all the greater since this fatal defeat took place at home, and that it deprives the Celtics of a place in the final.
It is therefore the Heat players who will challenge, from June 1, the Denver Nuggets, already qualified for several days, for the final coronation. After squandering their three-game lead, the Floridians showed great strength of character and took revenge from last season when the Celtics beat them in seven games to reach the final, lost to the Golden State Warriors. .
Decisive Caleb Martin
If star Jimmy Butler finished the game with 28 points on the clock, it was Caleb Martin, the substitute who became starter, who made a strong impression at Miami with 26 points, including several scored at key moments, a nice four on six three-pointers and ten rebounds.
On the side of the Celtics, who quickly ran after the score (22-15 at the end of the first quarter) without ever being able to come back within six points of their opponents, Jayson Tatum was limited to 14 points after being twisted at the start of the match.
Unlucky finalist in 2020 in the Orlando bubble against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Heat will try to win a fourth league title this year and also write history by becoming the first franchise ranked eighth at the end of the season. regular in his Conference to be consecrated.
This will require dominating neophyte Nuggets at this level of competition, who have unceremoniously dismissed the Lakers in the West. After also leading 3 to 0, Nikola Jokic’s teammates saved themselves unnecessary scares by winning in the fourth game. They will host the first match of a final which should offer spectacle and suspense.
