Run it back: Celtics to face Heat in Conference Finals rematch

BOSTON (AP) —As the Celtics’112-88Game 7 routof the 76ers began to crystallize late in thethird quarter, a Boston fan toting a neon pink inflatable flamingoheld up a sign that read, “See you in Miami!”

Celtics-Heat:The rematch is now officially set for the Eastern Conferencefinals.

Last seasonthe Celtics had a 3-2 series lead over Miami in the NBA’s versionof the final four before losing in Game 6. Boston then came withina late missed jump by Miami’s Jimmy Butler of seeing its season endin Game 7 before eventually holding on to advance to the NBAFinals.

Following achampionship-round loss to Golden State, this season was themed“Unfinished Business” for this latest incarnation of the Celtics asthey long to get another shot at the franchise’s 18th title.

They’rehoping to carry the momentum and lessons from Sunday’s blowout winover Philadelphia into what they expect to be another slugfest withthe Heat. The teams split their four regular-season matchups.

“We hadanother opportunity today, as a team and for myself of just to kindof bounce back,” said Jayson Tatum, whose 51 points were the mostever in a Game 7. “I was relieved, I was happy about that, just toget another chance because our season could have been over in Game6. Just being in another Game 7. ... I was really excited, just forthe moment.”

Tatum’sheroics topped the mark set by the Warriors’ Stephen Curry in theWarriors first-round win over Sacramento just two weeks ago.

It alsosilenced critics who began to doubt Tatum following back-to-backgames in which he had trouble locating the scoring punch that puthim in the MVP conversation this season.

“When heplays a well-rounded game, our team is different,” Celtics coachJoe Mazzulla said.

Bostonentered just 7-9 in its last 16 home playoff games, but outscoredPhiladelphia 33-10 in the third quarter. That 23-point margin wasthe largest in any Game 7 quarter in league history.

The Celtics,who have played in more Game 7s than any team in NBA history,improved to 27-9 in those winner-take-all contests.

League MVPJoel Embiid, who became a force for the 76ers in the second half ofthe season after Tatum had been among the frontrunners in the firsthalf, had nothing but praise for Tatum and the potential for theCeltics to represent the East again in the finals.

“I thinkthey’re probably the best team in the league,” Embiid said.“They’re so talented and they got a lot of guys who can play greatbasketball.”

What mighthave been the most impressive about getting past Philadelphia washow the Celtics adjusted to claim the final two games of theseries.

First, Bostonbenefitted from pleas from the players and the ultimate decision byMazzulla to insert Robert Williams III into the lineup to playalongside fellow big man Al Horford. Then, the Celtics madetactical adjustment to use Williams as a third defender on thepick-and-rolls between Embiid and James Harden, forcing tougherlooks for both in Game 7 in particular.

Now theCeltics will look to formulate a game plan to stop a Miami teamthat has fought its way back to the conference finals thanks tosome epic performances by their biggest star in Butler.

It’s achallenge Tatum said the team feels ready to embrace.

“A team thatwe’re extremely familiar with, third time in four years I thinkplaying them in the playoffs,” Tatum said. “Very well-coached team.They compete with the best of them. They play hard. They defend.They make plays. And they figure out a way to win games. It’s goingto be fun. It’s going to be highly competitive. And I’m lookingforward to it.”