Feb 20

CHA13-39
LAL32-20
FDCH @3:00 AM UTC

Feb 21

BOS39-16
PHI20-34
TNT @12:00 AM UTC
MEM36-18
IND30-23
FDSM @12:00 AM UTC
ORL27-29
ATL26-29
FDSE @12:30 AM UTC
CLE44-10
BKN20-34
FDOH @12:30 AM UTC
CHI22-33
NYK36-18
CHSN @12:30 AM UTC
LAC31-23
MIL29-24
FDSC @1:00 AM UTC
CHA13-39
DEN36-19
FDCH @2:00 AM UTC
PHX26-28
SAS23-29
TNT @2:30 AM UTC
LAL32-20
POR23-32
KUNP @3:00 AM UTC

LeBron James powers Cavaliers to NBA Finals past Celtics in Game 7

Share
0:00
0:00 / 1:12

BOSTON – LeBron James did it ... again.

The Boston Celtics had home court advantage, and with it a number of opportunities to do what no team has done in nearly a decade which is send LeBron James home without a trip to the NBA Finals. 

Maybe it was their youth; maybe the moment was too big. 

Regardless, Boston had its chances and blew it time and time again in Game 7. 

James, as we've seen so many times, made them pay for it. 

And the Celtics will have all summer to think about it after dropping an 87-79 Game 7 loss to the Cavs who are now on to the NBA Finals where they will face the winner of the Houston/Golden State series that wraps up tomorrow.

MORE CELTICS:

Trailing 59-56 after three quarters of play, the Celtics were looking to do what no team has done in this Eastern Conference finals with Cleveland – take the lead in the fourth quarter. Boston would regain the lead, but like most of their success in Game 7 it didn’t last long as the Cavs made the most of the Celtics’ missed opportunities to escape with the victory. 

Boston Celtics

Find the latest Boston Celtics news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Boston.

Checking in on our bold 2024-25 Celtics predictions at All-Star break

Ranking Celtics' top competitors in East at NBA All-Star break

James, who played every minute of Game 7, led all players with a near triple-double of 35 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists.

Meanwhile, the Celtics got a strong performance from Jayson Tatum who finished with a team-high 24 points.  Al Horford had a solid night with 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting.

But beyond those two, the rest of the Celtics core players struggled mightily when it came to knocking down shots, contested or wide open.

It brings a disappointing end to a season that has been filled with the Celtics overcoming the loss of key players and injuries to finish with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and just as important, a blueprint for what will likely be one of the top teams in the East for the next few years.

None of that matters right now in this moment, with the pain of not getting to the NBA Finals still fresh in the minds of Celtics Nation and obviously, the players too.

The first signs of things falling apart for Boston came in the second quarter.

Boston ended the second with a wide open missed 3-pointer by Brown, a play that in many ways symbolized how they closed out the first half with several opportunities to increase their lead.

You had a feeling it would come back and bite them, which it did in the third quarter as Cleveland went on a 15-4 run to lead 56-51.

Following a Boston miss by Marcus Smart, he was able to corral the loose ball and score to make it a one-possession game again, 56-53, with 2:55 to play in the third which led to a time-out by Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue. 

Boston would eventually tie the game up with a trio of free throws, but a 3-pointer by James would prove to be the difference in the quarter which ended with the Cavs ahead 59-56.

With fast starts often dictating the outcome in this series, Boston had to feel pretty good about how things played out in the first few minutes.

MORE CELTICS:

The Celtics opened the game with an 11-4 run led by Tatum scoring seven points during the spurt. Following a Cleveland timeout, the Cavs responded with a 12-4 run of their own to take a 16-15 lead.

It didn’t last long as the Celtics' Marcus Morris, defended by Cleveland’s Kyle Korver, scored on a lay-up to put the Celtics back on top. 

Morris’ basket was part of an 11-2 run by Boston to end the first quarter which ended with the Celtics ahead 26-18.

Boston would push its lead to as many as 12 points (35-23) in the second quarter, only for the Cavs to counter with a 12-2 run following a 3-pointer by J.R. Smith that cut Boston’s lead to 37-35.

The Celtics continued to play with a lead as the half ended with Boston ahead 43-39.

NBC SPORTS BOSTON SCHEDULE

Contact Us