After three games and three quarters of methodically chipping away – and coming tantalizingly close to making history – the Celtics ran out of steam in Game 7 against the Heat.
Miami earned a 103-84 victory on Monday at TD Garden, winning the series four games to three and advancing to face the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals.
Jayson Tatum sprained his ankle on the first play of the game, Jaylen Brown had eight turnovers, the Celtics shot 21.4 percent from 3, and Boston scored just 18 points in a dreadful fourth quarter. Jimmy Butler led the way with 28, and Celtics killer Caleb Martin added 26.