There are players born for great moments, and one of them is Jayson Tatum. The young All-Star from Boston showed in Game 7 against the Toronto Raptors that his pulse does not tremble when the stage tightens. With 29 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists, he led some Celtics who ended up winning 92-87 and entering the Eastern Conference finals, where they will meet the Miami Heat.
A real battle of the seventh game was expected, and it was. Each ball was fought as the last from the initial jump and the defenses prevailed in many moments; yes, there were guys like the aforementioned Tatum, or Fred VanVleet of the Raptors (author of 20 points), who insisted on scoring in the face of adversity. It was precisely the Canadians who had to overcome a strong start from the greens, who by the middle of the third quarter already dominated by a dozen points. Toronto reacted really well and turned the electronic game around until it was they who took the lead in the second period. The game seemed to be going through streaks, and it is that Brad Stevens’ men returned to answer to have the dominance at rest by four points (50-46).
Little changed the dynamics of the match in the second half. Boston was many minutes ahead but with meager income until through a huge Tatum they placed 10 up with 4:51 to play (88-78). Did the Raptors give up? –The question remains. Showing once again an unbeatable competitive spirit, they were closing the gap until they were down two (89-87). Everything seemed set for an epic comeback when Norman Powell faced the green rim on a counterattack, but of course, Marcus Smart did not want to miss the parties either. In addition to contributing 16 points, 6 assists and 3 steals, the heart of the Celtics jumped with everything to put a huge plug on the Toronto guard. It was a defining moment, as were the free throws that Grant Williams would later throw. He missed them, but Tatum grabbed the rebound in attack and enjoyed two more. He only put one in. VanVleet, with Kyle Lowry fouled out just in the previous action, took responsibility for tying the match; however, his triple attempt was nowhere near entering. Two free throws by Kemba Walker closed the night and Boston’s qualifying.
“If you want to achieve something great, if you want to win, you have to know that it will not be easy. That is exactly why we have come this far ”, said Tatum at the end of a game that brought him closer to one of the great legends of the NBA, the sadly deceased Kobe Bryant. The Boston star became the second youngest player in history to record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a seventh game. Yes the leader is The Black Mamba.
Losses, slab for Toronto
In a game that can be decided by minute details, the truth is that the Canadians had a real problem with turnovers, since they committed up to 18 that Boston converted into 31 points. Too much of an advantage for the opponent as team leader Kyle Lowry did not have his best day either. The point guard stayed at 16 points with a 5 of 15 shooting from the field. This is how he expressed himself at the end of the clash. “It is true that it was hard to lose the game. But they won, so we have to congratulate them. They have a chance to play Miami and get to the championship fight. ” And if Lowry was not correct, it was not the night of Pascal Siakam, who closed an irregular tie with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
The first two, eliminated
So is. Since 1984, when the 16-team playoff system was introduced, there has never been the circumstance that none of the top two finishers in the Eastern Conference had missed the final round to enter the NBA Finals. This year it has happened. Miami (fifth) ended the hopes of the Milwaukee Bucks; while Boston (third) has shut out the Toronto Raptors (second). To find something similar, you have to go back to 1969, the year in which the then called Eastern Division finals they faced the Boston Celtics (fourth) and the New York Knicks (third).
2-1 against Miami
Looking ahead to what lies ahead we can take a look at how Boston and Miami have fared this season when they met. Of three games the Celtics have dominated in two of them. In the first, on December 4, Stevens’ men won 112-93 in Boston, something they would repeat on January 28, 109-101. Already in the Orlando bubble, it would be Florida’s who would smile by winning 112-106 on August 4. Beyond numbers, an exciting tie is expected.
(Photograph by Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
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