The 2022 NBA Finals are set. A few days after the Golden State Warriors punched their ticket, the Boston Celtics joined them.
The Celtics overcame a raucous FTX Arena sellout crowd to win Game 7 against the Miami Heat, 100-96, to secure their return to the finals. It was Boston’s third win in Miami during the series. Jayson Tatum scored 26 while Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart each scored 24 as Boston withheld a late rally from the Heat.
You can’t blame Jimmy Butler for the outcome as he followed up a 47-point performance in Game 6 with 35 points in the No. 1 seed’s final game of the season.
The Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in 12 years, where they’ll face the Warriors, who are back after a two-season hiatus. The series will begin Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. ET on ABC at Chase Center in San Francisco. As Golden State had a better regular-season record (53-29) than the Celtics (51-31), they get the home-court advantage.
The Celtics and Warriors split their regular-season series, one game apiece, though Boston has won five of its last six meetings with Golden State.
NBA fans are excited for a showdown between these two franchises, representing the league’s most dynastic franchise with its most recent dynasty. There were plenty of strong reactions around social media as thoughts turned to the NBA Finals showdown ahead.
Whole TL picking the Celtics. Maybe the scrappy underdog Warriors can pull off another upset
— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) May 30, 2022
My poor mother…
Her daughter is a Warriors fan.
Her son is a Celtics fan.One of her children is going to be unbearable.
— Andrew Hammond (@ahammALDC) May 30, 2022
Warriors vs. Celtics is gonna be a clash between two absolute titans of the game. Two players who are both unstoppable forces and immovable objects at the same time. Institutions of their respective franchise.
I cannot wait for Kevon Looney vs. Al Horford.
— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) May 30, 2022
As a Laker fan, I wanted Miami to advance. But as a basketball fan, the Celtics are a much tougher match-up for the Warriors than a banged up Heat team.
— Polo Bustamante (@polo_bustamante) May 30, 2022
Would’ve liked a Warriors-Heat finals, but that’s alright. GSW in 5 https://t.co/1TR5W2uVXp
— James Torrez (@JamesTorrezNews) May 30, 2022
