Inside The Celtics

NBA Announces Full Series Schedule for Celtics-Heat Eastern Conference Finals

The Celtics and Heat are about to square off in the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in the last four years.

Bobby Krivitsky

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Sunday, in front of an electric crowd at TD Garden, the Celtics were at their best, delivering a 28-3 haymaker in the third quarter en route to a 112-88 win in a Game 7 between rivals.

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Jayson Tatum made history, erupting for 51 points, the most in a Game 7. It's also the most anyone's scored in a playoff matchup without committing a turnover, per Stat Muse.

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Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

With its Mother's Day victory, Boston punched its ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth time in the last seven years, the third in four seasons, and the fourth in Tatum and Jaylen Brown's first six years together.

Awaiting them is a familiar opponent: the Miami Heat. That's been the opposition the previous two times the Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

Among the many changes since their first meeting on this stage in the Orlando bubble in 2020 is Boston's on its third head coach since then, going from Brad Stevens to Ime Udoka to Joe Mazzulla.

Another wrinkle is this is the first time the Celtics start the series with home-court advantage. So, after having to go to South Beach to dig out a Game-7 win last year, if the two again go the distance, the winner-take-all matchup would be at the same venue that answered Jaylen Brown's challenge on Sunday, with Tatum describing it as "probably the loudest the Garden's been in like a year."

Here's the full Eastern Conference Finals schedule, which starts Wednesday at TD Garden.

Further Reading

Al Horford Discusses Series-Long Battle with Joel Embiid: 'I Had to Put My Imprint in the Series'

Celtics React to Jayson Tatum's Historical Game 7 Performance: 'There's Nothing They Could Do'

Jayson Tatum Discusses His Relationship with Celtics Fans: 'I Love Being Here'

Jaylen Brown Salutes TD Garden Crowd After Game 7: 'It Was Amazing'

Jayson Tatum Discusses Historic Game 7 Performance: 'That's When I Play My Best'

Here's What Stood Out in Game 7 Win vs. Sixers: Celtics Save Their Best Performance for When They Needed it Most

Celtics Praise Joe Mazzulla for Game 6 Adjustments That Helped Save Their Season

Celtics Discuss Jayson Tatum Rising to the Occasion, Forcing a Game 7

Here's What Stood Out in Game 6 Win vs. Sixers: Jayson Tatum's 16 Fourth Quarter Points Saves Celtics' Season

Jaylen Brown Discusses Whether Making an All-NBA Team Provides Clarity About His Future

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown Earn All-NBA Honors; Here's What That Means for Them and the Celtics

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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