Celtics

Brown fouled out of Friday's 111-103 loss to the Heat in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals after recording 20 points (6-13 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 7-9 FT), ...

- Celtics' Jaylen Brown: Plays well in losing effort - Celtics' Jaylen Brown: All-around effort in Game 6 win Brown reached the 20-point mark for the fifth time in the series, but he fouled out and the Celtics certainly missed him down the stretch.

Celtics head coach Ime Udoka says Boston must get off to a faster start against the Miami Heat and cannot 'give them life early' in Game 7 on Sunday.

It would be hard to have imagined a scenario four months ago where the Celtics would be playing now -- let alone playing in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. We have confidence in going down there winning, too, but we have to get ourselves off to better starts, get ourselves easy baskets and not give them life early in the game." But at the same time, they are our scorers, they're our leading scorers, and obviously in the fourth quarter, we need them to bring it home. "Obviously, early in the game if they're going after them, we encourage them to get off the ball and the defense will kind of break down and open up for them later in the game," Udoka said. After again committing several careless turnovers in the opening moments of Game 6 and falling into a 12-5 hole, they essentially spent the game attempting to dig themselves out of it. Even in these playoffs, it hasn't been easy ... a lot of that is due to what we're doing, and we can be better, for sure.

Boston Celtics vs. Miami HEAT Sunday, May 29 @ 8:30 PM Series Record: 3-3.

A huge portion of the game was decided by the HEAT winning the turnover battle, 23-8, and taking 22 more shots than their opponent, but this was a battle of the mind more than anything. The HEAT ramped up the physicality on defense, found just enough shotmaking – Max Strus and Adebayo each hit a massive jumper after Boston closed to within one – and responded to one momentum-building one after another. Instead what we’re getting is a series where both defenses have indeed been great, but each game has seen one team lead by at least 20 – Boston’s near-comeback in Game 3 was the only real pushback we’ve seen from a big hole – because as soon as one defense gets rolling then the other team starts to struggle even more having to attack in the halfcourt, and the more that team misses the more the other side can try to push the pace. In other words, precisely because the defense is so good and both teams have some inherent struggles in the halfcourt, we’re more likely than usual to see one run get extended as the other side is pushed more and more onto their heels. And in the end, that opening salvo offered a large enough lead to put Miami up 2-1 in the series. In winning the opening period, 39-18, the HEAT had just about as immaculate a start to a postseason game as you can possibly have. Both teams are going to come out of this one with plenty to like – Boston wound up winning three of the four quarters – and if you came into this game expecting a long series there wasn’t much on hand to dissuade you of that notion. With Kyle Lowry back, his effect on the pace of the offense, both in the open floor and in the halfcourt, was immediately evident as he pushed into a trail three for Max Strus and followed that up a few possessions later with his traditional hit-ahead pass to Jimmy Butler. But apart from Lowry and some hot three-point shooting, the real boost to the offense was Bam Adebayo scoring about as well as he has ever scored. And as usual – after Boston made a run with Butler off the court – he was there to bring it home down the stretch as he hunted the Payton Pritchard matchup relentlessly, holding the Celtics off with free-throws and jumpers. Boston was up by as much as they were up – 34 at the largest lead, but consistently over after their major runs – because they were hitting just about everything. Just as quick as Game 1 turned after the break when the HEAT rediscovered their own identity playing physical and precise defense and letting that effort power their offense, this time Boston was the team finding itself. He wasn’t alone in doing so, but there’s a level of pressure that Butler can apply to your offense that makes every pass carry just a little more inherent risk to it – an effect that played a major role as the HEAT’s defense fed their offense over and over and over again in the third quarter.

Superstar players, wild swings in momentum and nagging concerns all come under the withering glare of the Game 7 spotlight.

In the third quarter on Sunday, both Butler ( on a drive) and Victor Oladipo ( with a step-back 3) were able to score against Williams in isolation. Both Smart (right ankle) and Robert Williams III (left knee) are listed as questionable for Boston. Both played in Game 6, though Williams didn’t play in the fourth quarter. In their three wins, the Heat are 21-for-49 (43%) in the last six seconds of the shot clock. The Heat have allowed more than 122 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor in this series, and he hasn’t been able to make up for it with his offense, shooting 1-for-14 from 3-point range in the three games he’s played. And the Celtics scored 57 points on 47 possessions (1.21 per) in the second half of Game 6, so it’s not like the Heat’s extra-aggressive defense was super effective. In Game 3 (which they won by six points), the Heat made three tough shots at the shot-clock buzzer… And, instead of staying in front of the ball, White committed a transition foul with the Heat in the bonus. The Celtics erased a nine-point, fourth-quarter deficit in Game 6 on Friday and took a three-point lead. It was about a Heat defense that wasn’t going to allow the great players to make great plays. This will be the 35th Game 7 in franchise history, but only the eighth that Boston has played on the road. Home teams are 108-32 (.771) in Game 7s, a record that doesn’t include the four Game 7s that took place in the 2020 bubble. Of course, Game 7s from 10 or 20 years ago have little to do with the one that will be played Sunday night.

The Celtics missed a chance to close out the Eastern Conference Finals at home, but they remain confident that they can win the series in Miami, ...

It’s a 10 out of 10 in my confidence level and the group.” “We know we can go there and win. - This is the fourth conference finals in six years for Boston, but the current core hasn’t been able to reach the next level, notesJoe Vardon of The Athletic. One of those losses was to Miami two years ago, and the players want to make sure they don’t come up short again. “We’ve got an opportunity to do something with this group that’s special. They also struggled to get production from their main scorers in the second half as Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for just 18 points after halftime. “We won the close-out game, obviously, [against Milwaukee], and for us we’ve won two in Miami, so that’s the positive of it,” coach Ime Udoka said.

The Heat star made sure to let the world know what he believes is going to happen in Game 7 in Miami.

We’re going to play Boston. That’s who we’re going to play,” Green said on Thursday night. And we’re going to win the next one too,” Butler said. The Heat clearly entered TD Garden with a chip on their collective shoulders.

The Celtics star shared his confidence level in his team for Game 7 as the series shifts back to Miami.

Butler finished with a game-high 47 points, showing he’s every bit of the superstar that the Heat expect him to be. It’s a 10 out of 10 in my confidence level and the group,” Tatum said. Turnovers once again plagued the Celtics on Friday night.

It's back to Miami for Game 7 after the Heat evened the series up at 3-3.

It’s up to the Celtics to bounce back and take Game 7. The Celtics need him to find his game for Game 7. · Rebounding from the start: It’s taking Boston far too long to figure out their rebounding in some of these games. The Celtics have seen everything the Heat are going to do to force turnovers. The Miami Heat aren’t going to give Boston anything. Now, at the biggest moment possible, they have to both be great for a full game. · Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have to be great for 48 minutes: These are the Celtics stars. It’s as simple as this: When the Celtics turn the ball over a lot, they lose. It’s fair in the sense that a veteran Heat forward dominated on the road to keep his team alive. It’s up to them to end the 2012 comparisons by winning a Game 7 in Miami, something those Celtics legends couldn’t do. The Celtics scored 22 points off turnovers. He scored nine more points in the third quarter.

The Celtics led by 15 after the first quarter. Miami's Jimmy Butler fueled the Heat's comeback attempt, but it wasn't enough.

After winning 28 of their final 35 games to close out the regular season, the Celtics pulverized the Nets with a four-game sweep in the first round of the playoffs. Butler scored 47 points on the road in Boston, forcing a winner-takes-all Game 7 in Miami. But with their season on the line in Game 6, the Heat responded. It remained one of the staples of his film sessions as the Celtics labored with growing pains, and it was a message that eventually took root. Now, perhaps, the very best is yet to come. The Celtics went out and beat Philadelphia by 48 points for their ninth straight win. But that was only one part of the Celtics’ winning formula. After one quarter, the Celtics led by 15 points, and had held Miami to 17 points, 6 of them by Jimmy Butler. When the Heat pushed back it was largely because of Butler. He scored 18 points in the second quarter and helped the Heat cut their deficit to just 6 at halftime. The Warriors, who are trying to resuscitate a dynasty that had been on hiatus, are pursuing their fourth championship in eight seasons. It was not until late January that they figured out how to defend, share the ball and win with any semblance of consistency. The trophy is named for the Celtics icon Larry Bird. MIAMI — More than four months into a remarkable turnaround, the Celtics seem determined to keep it going.

Eastern Conference finals MVP Jayson Tatum led the way with 26 points, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart each added 24 and the Celtics beat the Miami Heat 100-96 on Sunday night to earn a berth in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.

Heat: Butler was the second NBA player this season to play every second of a game. The other was Houston in the 2018 Western Conference finals; the injury-plagued Rockets were 6.5-point underdogs and lost to Golden State 101-92. “You certainly have to credit the Boston Celtics organization and their team and their coaching staff. Celtics: Derrick White had to leave early in the fourth quarter because he was bleeding after his head got struck by Adebayo under a basket. Butler was up to 24 points at the break and Miami had gotten within 55-49 going into the third. “Today was the biggest test," Brown said. This Celtics team roared to life down the stretch and is still roaring. Miami thought it had gotten within 56-54 when Strus rattled in a corner 3 early in the third. ... It's one of the worst feelings into the world to address your locker room after a game like this." “The road that we took to get here, not a lot of people believed in us,” Tatum said. Ime Udoka’s first season as coach of the Celtics was not without immense challenges. Tatum — wearing a purple-and-gold armband bearing the number “24” of Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, his favorite player — had lost two East finals in his young career.

After 7 games, the Eastern Conference Finals have been settled. Beating the Miami Heat Sunday night, 100-96, the Boston Celtics will take on the Golden ...

For Golden State, however, it'll be their sixth Finals appearance in the last eight years. Golden State and Boston finished the regular season tied as the best defensive teams this season, each with a 106.9 defensive rating according to Statemuse.com. Golden State and Boston tied in their regular season series this year, each winning one game — the most recent coming as a 110-88 Celtics win on March 16 at Chase Center.

The Boston Celtics are in the NBA Finals for the 22nd time in franchise history, and will square off against the Golden State Warriors.

Boston had the No. 1-rated defense this season, and that was on display in Game 7. Coming off a 47-point effort in Game 6, Jimmy Butler scored 17 of Miami’s first 30 points and 24 of their first 44. Butler, who played all 48 minutes, finished with a game-high 35 points – his eighth game with at least 30 points this playoffs, tying LeBron James for most 30-point games by a Heat player in a single postseason. The Celtics will face the Golden State Warriors and try to win a league-record 18th championship, which would break a tie the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics continue a remarkable turnaround. He had 26 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal in the series finale.

The Boston Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals, defeating the Miami Heat 100-96. Boston will face the Golden State Warriors in the Finals, ...

One of the best dudes in this league. Five: imagine how demoralizing a make would be for Boston given the circumstances? They survived another 35 points from Heat star Jimmy Butler, not to mention a near dagger shot from him, and are headed to a league-record 22nd Finals thanks to a 100-96 win in Miami Sunday night. Jaylen Brown on the Butler 3: "When he shot that I was like man what the hell. It looked like he was gonan go for the shot, but I just had to stay solid and go for the contest…It was nerve wrakcing. Heat fans may not want to hear this now, but it’s amazing that team was this close to reaching the NBA Finals – and not just because of the injuries. •3h ago We're trying to finish the deal." Ime Udoka: "It will all be for naught if we lay an egg in the Finals. ... We're here now. •3h ago •3h ago Boston will face the Golden State Warriors in the Finals, starting on Thursday.

Jayson Tatum scored 26 points and the Boston Celtics held off a frantic rally in the final seconds to reach the NBA finals for the first time since 2010.

An 9-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Max Strus with 51 seconds left, got the Heat within 98-96. Boston forced the Heat into nine consecutive misses during a crucial stretch of the fourth quarter, using that run to turn an 82-79 lead into a 90-79 edge – and the Celtics, who had lost each of their last four trips to the East finals, found a way to hold on. Bam Adebayo added 25 for the Heat, who were down 11 with under three minutes to go before trying one last rally.

Jayson Tatum scored 26 points, Jaylen Brown generated 24, and the Celtics' defense held the Heat under 100 as Boston prevailed in Game 7 in Miami.

After the break, Lowry stepped into a three to make it 78-70. Oladipo countered, driving in for a bucket that brought it to 90-81. Tatum then drove and found Brown at the rim for a layup that made it 69-56. Tatum thought he extended it to 90-79 but got whistled for a charge as he tried to finish in transition. Smart answered with a layup to push it to 58-54. But Tatum answered, muscling his way to the basket for two points plus a foul on Vincent. He couldn't make the free throw, though. Butler then spun by White for a two near the basket to make it 24-17. Due to Miami being in the bonus, Lowry went to the line, earning his first two points. It was a terrific start for the Celtics. They shot 12/24 from the field, 5/9 (55.6 percent) from beyond the arc, and produced 14 points in the paint. After that, Smart delivered a dime to Williams for another deuce at the rim. But Horford responded, fielding a Jayson Tatum drive-and-kick and hitting a three that gave the Celtics a 12-5 advantage early. Jayson Tatum grabbed a Marcus Smart missed three and put it back for the game's first two points.

MIAMI (AP) — Somewhere, Gregg Popovich must be pleased. Ime Udoka and Steve Kerr both played for Popovich with of the San Antonio Spurs, both served as ...

Udoka has a chance to become the 10th coach to win a title in his first season. Green began giving a diplomatic answer, saying that both the Heat and Celtics were tough. For the Celtics, it’s a chance at an 18th NBA championship — which would break the tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in league history. Curry was ready to go for the playoffs. The Warriors’ Draymond Green was on that Olympic team. “You’re asking me who I want to play. Hopefully, we can get healthy and have a few days of really good prep and be ready to go on Thursday.” Udoka played for Popovich and later was a San Antonio assistant. Proud of everybody that is in that locker room, that came with it all year. “This is an opportunity that players dream of,” Golden State's Andrew Wiggins said. The Warriors have been waiting for an opponent since this past Thursday after needing only five games to beat Dallas for the West title. “That was the biggest thing, defending."