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Jimmy Butler was the best scorer of the game with 28 points

Photo: Charles Krupa / AP

The Miami Heat are in the NBA Finals. After three defeats in a row in the Eastern Conference final series, Jimmy Butler's team won 103-84 against the Celtics on Monday night in Boston and now meets the Denver Nuggets. Butler was the game's leading scorer with 28 points. The first of a maximum of seven games for the title in the best basketball league in the world is in the German night to Friday.

"I have so much faith in myself and in this team. I know what great players we have and how good we are as a team," Butler said. We still have four wins to go."

At TD Garden, the Celtics got off to a better start, but gave up their lead in the first quarter and didn't take the lead after that. Their best player Jayson Tatum landed unluckily on the foot of an opponent during the first attack and was apparently in pain for the rest of the game. He finished the game with 14 points. The best scorer for the hosts was Jaylen Brown with 19 points.

The Celtics had won three games in a row after three defeats at the start of the Eastern Conference Finals – only three other teams had previously managed to do so in the NBA playoffs. However, the record champions also failed in their attempt to become the first team to win a playoff series after a 0-3 deficit.

KIM/DPA