1. Game 7 lived up to its promise, even if it didn’t come with the result desired by all of Miami. Boston got off to the early start, like Miami did on the road in Game 6, leading 32-17 after the first quarter, and like Game 6 the home team never folded, never gave an ounce less than maximum effort, and almost clawed their way back to victory.
But like Game 6, Boston always had an answer. Every time Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo pulled them back within three or four possessions, the Celtics had a shot, a three, a drive or a trip to the free-throw line to put things just out of reach again.