Boston Celtics claimed a 100-96 win at Miami Heat on Sunday to secure a 4-3 series win in the Eastern Conference Finals and set up an NBA Finals Series meeting with Golden State Warriors.
Boston are 13/10 to win the Finals Series and star man Jayson Tatum is 7/4 to be named the NBA Finals MVP.
The Celtics last won the championship in 2008 and this will be their first Finals Series since 2010, having lost out in the conference finals in three of the last five years.
Celtics always in control
Boston opened up a 17-point lead early in the second quarter as they took control of proceedings at the FTX Arena, but Miami responded and had cut that lead to just six points by half-time.
However, the Celtics were never behind despite Miami moving to within two points at the closing stages as they held on to secure a Game 7 win.
Miami's Jimmy Butler led the game in scoring with 35 points, but it wasn't enough as Boston trio Tatum, Jalen Brown and Marcus Smart combined for 74 points.
Tatum had 26, with 10 rebounds and six assists and won the inaugural edition of the Larry Bird Trophy, as he was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP.
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Coach Ime Udoka, who is in his first year as a head coach after replacing Brad Stevens at the end of last season, welcomed the win but insists his team will not celebrate unless they go on and beat Golden State in the Finals.
Udoka warns job not done
"It would be all for naught if we go lay an egg in the Finals, and we understand that," said Udoka, as reported by Mass Live.
"Guys were quick to celebrate, but quick to flip the page and say "we've got four more", we don't hang or celebrate Eastern Conference championships in the Celtic organization. So we all fall in line and appreciate that standard of excellence."
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