Heat top Celtics to reach Finals

Boston ousted in East finals for 3rd time in 4 years; Miami faces L.A .

It was exactly one year ago Sunday when Jimmy Butler walked into the Miami Heat practice g ym, took a seat on a makeshift stage and said he wanted to be part of the team’s next title run.

He’ll have that chance.

The Heat are going to the NBA Finals — surprising many, perhaps, but not themselves. Bam Adebayo scored a season-high 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, Butler scored 22 points and the Heat won the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth time by topping the Boston Celtics 125113 on Sunday night.

“This group, more than anything, they just love to compete,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said during the trophy celebration.

The Heat won the series 4-2 — and now, they ’ll see Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers for the title. Game 1 of that series is Wednesday night.

Tyler Herro scored 19 points, Duncan Robinson and Andre Iguodala each had 15 and Goran Dragic added 13 for the Heat.

Jaylen Brown scored 26 points, Jayson Tatum had 24 and a career-high 11 assists, and Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker each scored 20 points for Boston — which fell in the East finals for the third time in the last four seasons.

Miami was down by six early in the fourth before regaining control. A 6-0 burst — Herro had the last five of those points, needing only 31 seconds to do so — tied it at 96. Boston took the lead twice more, with Adebayo answering both times, first with a dunk, then a go-ahead threepoint play with 6:16 left.

Miami never trailed again. Herro had a pair of baskets in a 9-0 burst that put the Heat up by 10, and Adebayo found Butler for a lay up and a 116-102 lead.

The Heat are the only NBA franchise with six Finals appearances in the last 15 years. They’re seeking their fourth title.