The Miami Heat have booked their place in the 2023 NBA Finals courtesy of a convincing 103-84 victory over the Boston Celtics in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Heat went into the decisive showdown looking to avoid becoming the first team to blow a 3-0 lead in a playoff final, after the Celtics had fought back to win three on the bounce, including a dramatic buzzer-beater in game six.
However, Jimmy Butler led the way with 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists as Miami halted Boston's bid for history and booked their place in the best-of-seven Finals against the Denver Nuggets.
Caleb Martin contributed 26 points, while Bam Adebayo registered 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as the Heat blew the Celtics away in Boston.
The analytic they won't give you - the Miami HEAT are 100% Eastern Conference Champions. pic.twitter.com/ID5AyfJmKZ
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 30, 2023
The result sees Miami become the first team ranked as eighth seeds to make it all the way to the NBA Finals this century, with the New York Knicks the last team to have done so in 1999.
The Heat have reached the NBA Finals for the seventh time in their history and will be looking to wrap up a fourth title, having last been crowned champions in 2013.
Game one of their series against the Nuggets, who are appearing in the Finals for the first time ever, will take place in Denver on Thursday.
Barney Corkhill
