Three takeaways as the Cavs hold off the Celtics in an epic Game 7

Carlan Gay

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Three takeaways as the Cavs hold off the Celtics in an epic Game 7 image

The Cleveland Cavaliers have secured their spot in the NBA Finals for the fourth straight season defeating the Boston Celtics 87-79 winning their best-of-seven series 4-3.

The Cavs will play the winner of the Western Conference Finals series between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors when the NBA Finals begin on Thursday night.

Four Cavaliers posted double-digit scoring with LeBron James leading the way with a game-high 35 points. Jeff Green chipped in with 19 points, eight rebounds.


Jayson Tatum had 24 points to lead the Celtics. Al Horford finished with 17 points, four rebounds in the loss.

Here are three takeaways from Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals:

LeBron James

We know what he's meant to this team in the series and over the next couple days they'll be plenty of articles breaking down his brilliance in once again getting his team to the NBA Finals, but looking at what he did in this Game 7 he once again rose to the occasion.

James finished with a game-high 35 points, 15 rebound and one assist shy of a triple-double. He made momentum shifting baskets and had an incredible highlight reel block on Terry Rozier that will be remembered amongst his many playoff highlights.


LeBron once again proved he was the game's best player and will appear in his eight straight Finals.

Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum was the second best player in this series - at times he elevated to the best player on the court. On Sunday night in Game 7 he went head-to-head with one of the greatest to ever play the game and didn't take a back step. He even ended up crowning the King...


Tatum finished with a team-high 24 points, seven rebounds shooting 52.9% from the floor. The future of the Celtics is in good hands with a 20-year-old who looked like he had been there many times before in his first-ever playoff run.

The torch didn't quite change hands in the Eastern Conference this season, but it was close and it will definitely be up for grabs next season when the Celtics are at full strength. 

Closing time

After Tatum's electric dunk on LeBron and big-time step aside three-point shot to make it 72-71 Boston...the Cavs took over. 

In the final six minutes of the game, the Cavs outscored Boston 16-7. Cleveland who couldn't buy a basket finished the game shooting 4-for-8 from the field and 7-for-9 from the free throw line. Boston went cold in that same six-minute stretch going just 2-for-13 from the field.


The Celtics looked tired at the end of the game. They looked like a team that finally felt the severity of the moment - a team that had too much youth to win a game of that magnitude - a team that was missing two of the league's better closer in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward.

Cleveland had been there and done it before, the Celtics will be better for the experience.

Carlan Gay

Carlan Gay Photo

Carlan Gay is an assistant managing editor at The Sporting News with a focus on the NFL, NBA, College & global sports. Carlan is also a play-by-play announcer for FIBA calling games on the international level since 2017.

You can follow Carlan on Twitter at @TheCarlanGay.