2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Recap: Cavs Advance to Finals
Game 7: Cavaliers Defeat Celtics, 87-79
In a thrilling Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Boston Celtics 87-79 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The win sends the Cavaliers to their fourth consecutive NBA Finals, where they will face the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors.
Kevin Durant, LeBron James Lead Cavs
Kevin Durant led the Cavs with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in Game 7. LeBron James added 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists for Cleveland. Kyrie Irving scored 15 points and J.R. Smith added 12 points.
For the Celtics, Jason Tatum led the way with 24 points. Marcus Smart added 21 points and Terry Rozier scored 16 points. Jayson Brown was held to just 6 points on 2-of-14 shooting.
Final Minutes of the Game
The game was close throughout, but the Cavs took control in the final minutes. With the Celtics leading 79-77 with 2:40 remaining, Durant hit a jumper to tie the game. After a miss by the Celtics, James hit a jumper to give the Cavs an 81-79 lead. The Celtics had a chance to tie the game with 1:04 remaining, but Rozier's three-pointer was off the mark.
The Cavs then hit their free throws down the stretch to seal the victory. James hit two free throws with 18.1 seconds remaining to make it 83-79. Rozier missed another three-pointer with 11.3 seconds remaining, and Irving hit two free throws with 8.1 seconds remaining to make it 85-79. The Celtics missed a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer, and the Cavs celebrated their victory.
LeBron James Advances to Eighth Consecutive Finals
With the win, LeBron James advanced to his eighth consecutive NBA Finals. He is now tied with Bill Russell for the most consecutive Finals appearances in NBA history. James has also won three NBA championships, two with the Miami Heat and one with the Cavaliers.
The Cavs will now face the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. The Warriors are the defending champions and have won two of the last three NBA titles. The Finals will begin on Thursday, May 31st, at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.
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