No. 8 seed who found itself on the brink of elimination, “believed that we were going to come here and win.
Author: Michael
BOSTON – As the Heat bus rumbled down Causeway St., Kevin Love and Udonis Haslem sat alongside each other in silence. It had been less than 48 hours since Miami’s season was pushed to the brink, since the Heat were floored by a Derrick White buzzer-beating putback that forced Miami into an elimination game. During challenging times, Love and Haslem, two of the team’s elder statesmen, liked to discuss things that needed to be said to sharpen the team’s focus. On Monday, there was no need.
“You could feel it,” Love told SI. “These guys were ready.
The Celtics entered Monday’s Game 7 against the Heat with an opportunity to make history as the NBA’s first team to come back from a 3–0 series deficit. Instead, they walked away reeling after a 103–84 blowout loss that leaves the franchise with some big questions about their immediate and long-term future.
One in particular after his Game 7 performance: What will the team do about Jaylen Brown?
Brown struggled mightily on Monday night, shooting 8-for-23 from the field for 19 points and eight turnovers.
The Heat continued their dream run on Monday, routing the Celtics in Game 7 to become just the second No. 8 seed in NBA history to make the Finals.
The Heat’s 103–84 Game 7 rout of the Celtics in Boston was an outcome few could’ve seen coming to fruition. Unless, of course, you include Jimmy Butler, who called Miami’s 2023 NBA Finals bid over a year ago to the day of Monday’s lopsided victory.
An old clip of Butler predicting the outcome of this year’s Eastern Conference finals resurfaced following Game 7 as the Heat celebrated their second NBA Finals berth in four seasons.
The Heat did their job Monday evening, blasting the Celtics 103–84 in Boston to become the second No. 8 seed to reach the NBA Finals.
Now, Miami may be getting critical help ahead of its coming battle with the Nuggets.
Heat guard Tyler Herro is expected back during the Finals and will most likely make his return for Game 3 in Miami, according to a Monday night report from Chris Haynes of TNT.
Herro has not played since breaking his hand during Game 1 of Miami’s upset of the Bucks in the first round on April 16.
The Vegas Golden Knights will face the Florida Panthers for the Stanley Cup after eliminating, and absolutely dominating, the Dallas Stars in a 6-0 victory on Monday night in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals.
Nick Nurse’s desire to coach MVP Joel Embiid and his history with Daryl Morey played a significant part in his decision to commit to a deal with the Sixers, sources said.
Liam Hendriks announced in January that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The Celtics entered Monday night’s Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals with the home crowd advantage and all the momentum imaginable after winning three straight games to tie the series. But they didn’t have Caleb Martin.
The Heat wing enjoyed a breakout series and saved his best for last, scoring 26 points on 11-for-16 shooting in Miami’s 103–84 blowout win that sent the team to the NBA Finals. The win avenged the Heat’s defeat last year to the Celtics in the same round, and has Miami back in the Finals for the second time in four years.