The Boston Celtics made it into the final series of the NBA playoffs with an away win in the seventh game in Miami. So there is also a German professional in the finals.
Pointed to the button: The decision between the Heat and the Celtics was only made in game seven.
IMAGO/ZUMA Wire
The Celtics won the decisive seventh game on Miami’s South Beach on Sunday after a supposedly comfortable lead in the end with a narrow margin of 100:96 (55:49) and are therefore champions of the Eastern Conference. In the final, Boston, who reached the NBA finals for the first time since 2010, meets the Golden State Warriors around superstar Stephen Curry.
Butler in the end tragic hero
Led by their stars Jayson Tatum (26 points, ten rebounds, six assists), Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart (24 each), the guests still had to tremble at the end when the Heat with an 11-0 run shortly before the end to two points approached. Miami’s superstar Jimmy Butler, despite knee problems with 35 points again the best shooter of the game, missed the possible first lead of the Heat from the line of three with 16 seconds before the end and thus became the tragic hero.
Brown hit the rebound and after two Smart free throws were converted, the Celtics took the lead over time. Center Daniel Theis, who has played a supporting role in the play-offs so far, was not used again. However, the ex-Bamberger is the third German NBA professional after Detlef Schrempf and Dirk Nowitzki to be in the NBA finals.
What a team.
Schrempf failed in 1996 with the Seattle SuperSonics against the Chicago Bulls (2:4), ten years later Nowitzki lost with the Dallas Mavericks against Miami (2:4) – in 2011 he won the title with the Texans against the same opponent (4: 2).
Udoka allows only short celebrations
“What a team,” tweeted Theis, proudly showing off the East German champion’s trophy. His head coach Ime Udoka already looked at the duels with the Warriors: “The boys can celebrate briefly, but they also have to look ahead quickly. It would all be in vain if we fail in the final.” Udoka is in his first season as head coach in the final series. “It was the biggest game of the season and of my career so far,” said Eastern Finals MVP Tatum, who had narrowly failed several times in the playoffs with the Celtics in recent years.
Will Boston become the sole record champion again?
The Celtics now have the chance to become sole record holders again. They are currently tied with the Los Angeles Lakers with 17 championships won. The Warriors, who last won three titles between 2015 and 2018 and defeated Dallas in the West Final (4-1), are again tied for third place with six championships.
The first final game of the best-of-seven series takes place in the night from Thursday to Friday (3 a.m.).
