National Basketball Association
Boston Celtics 79-87 Cleveland Cavaliers
TD Gardens, Boston- Massachusetts
Monday, 28-05-2018
Cleveland win best of Seven (7) series 4-3
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Boston Celtics 87-79 in game seven of the Eastern Conference on Monday morning to reach a fourth consecutive NBA final.
Inspired by star player LeBron James who posted 35 points 15 rebounds and nine assists in the 48 minutes he was on the court, the Cavaliers will now attempt to win a second ring in their history.
For James, he make his eighth straight NBA Finals appearance and joins Celtics greats Bill Russell, Sam Jones, Tom Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey as the only NBA players to play in at least eight consecutive Finals.
“This is a heck of an accomplishment by our ball club without the help of our star power forward, said James of forward Kevin Love, who missed Sunday’s game after suffering a concussion in Game 6.
In Love’s absence, forward Jeff Green got the start and recorded 19 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist.
“Those are things, like I said, when you’re done playing the game, you can only dream and wish that you could be a part of that once again, continued James.
When asked about going to eight straight Finals and nine overall.
“I haven’t really processed the fact about going back to another Finals yet.
“I know that’s where we’re headed.
The Cavs won at TD Garden for the only time this series, becoming the fifth team in history to win its only game on the road in a series in Game 7.
The Celtics lost for the only time at home this entire postseason; they were 10-0. This is also the first time Boston has ever blown a series in which it led 2-0 (the Celtics were 37-0).
Rookie Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 24 points.
Al Horford scored 14 of his 17 points in the first half. Jaylen Brown added 13 points and Marcus Morris scored 14 off the bench.
The Celtics were 23-8 all time in Game 7s — the best record in NBA history.
They were also missing their two best players this series, as former Cavalier Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward were out with season-ending injuries.
“It’s definitely tough, but we have nothing to hang our heads about, Horford said.
In the Western Conference finals, The Golden State Warriors travel to the Toyota Center to take on home side Huston Rockets in game Seven.
The series are level at 3-3 with the winner tonight moving on to face the Cavs in the NBA finals 2018.
NBA Finals are scheduled to begin Thursday.
How the Cleveland Cavaliers won the best of seven series.
Game 1. Boston 108 – 83 Cleveland
Game 2. Boston 107– 94 Cleveland
Game 3. Cleveland 116 – 86 Boston
Game 4. Cleveland 111-102 Boston
Game 5. Boston 96-83 Cleveland
Game 6. Cleveland 109 – 99 Boston
Game 7. Boston 79-87 Cleveland
