CELTICS JOURNAL: Boston has had mixed results in Game 7s

Brad Stevens had some experience with coaching in a Game 7 before the Celtics wrapped up their series with the Toronto Raptors Friday night.

The Celtics had gone 2-1 under Stevens while playing in Game 7s in 2017 and 2018, winning against the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards and losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The winner of Game 7 between the Celtics and the defending champion Raptors at Disney World moves on to face the Miami Heat in the Eastern [...]

Brad Stevens had some experience with coaching in a Game 7 before the Celtics wrapped up their series with the Toronto Raptors Friday night.

The Celtics had gone 2-1 under Stevens while playing in Game 7s in 2017 and 2018, winning against the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards and losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The winner of Game 7 between the Celtics and the defending champion Raptors at Disney World moves on to face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals starting next week.

Stevens, who took a 34-32 playoff record into the deciding game against the Raptors, and his team have been at Disney World since July 8. The Raptors held training camp in South Florida starting in late June before arriving at Disney World.

Both teams figured to be wary going into Game 7 after the monotony of being in the bubble and following a double-overtime Game 6.

"You know the physical toughness it takes, the emotional toughness it takes and the metal toughness it takes and I believe we have that,’’ said Stevens. "It’s special. It’s the two seed vs. the three seed and two teams in a lot of way hang their hat on toughness and defending and can figure out a way to win games. That’s why I have nothing but respect for Toronto.

"Our team has had a special season, their team has had a special season. Both teams have probably done as much as anybody thought at the level we’ve played at, so it’s great we get to play for it.

This marks the fourth straight time that the Celtics have reached a Game 7 under Stevens in which they held 2-0 and 3-2 series leads, only to have a deciding game forced by the opponent in Game 6.

Here’s a look at the previous Game 7s, played at the TD Garden, with Stevens as the Celtics coach:

Celtics 115, Wizards 105, May 15, 2017: The game was up for grabs until Kelly Olynyk scored 12 points in less than four minutes in the fourth quarter. He finished with 26 points on 10-for-14 shooting, becoming the first Celtics’ bench player to get at least 25 in the playoffs since Eddie House in 2009.

The Celtics had to fight off Bradley Beal, who made five 3-pointers and scored 38 points, and were fortunate that John Wall (8-for-23, 1-for-8 on 3s) had a rough shooting night.

Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics with 29 points and 12 assists and was joined in the starting lineup by Amir Johnson, Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley and Al Horford.

Celtics 112, Bucks 96, April 28, 2018: The Celtics raced out to a 30-17 lead after one quarter and rode the hot shooting of Terry Rozier (10-for-16, 5-for-8 on 3s, 26 points) and Horford (13-for-17, 26 points).

Giannis Antetokounmpo made only 7-of-17 shots for 22 points and turned the ball over four times.

Cavaliers 87, Celtics 79, May 27, 2018: A spot in the NBA Finals was there for the taking, but the Celtics missed 32-of-39 shots from 3-point range. Rozier was 2-for-14 with four points, while Jaylen Brown went 3-for-12 from behind the arc.

LeBron James played all 48 minutes and was brilliant with 35 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and two blocks. Jeff Green came back to haunt the Celtics with 19 points and eight rebounds.

The Celtics held a 72-71 lead after a Jayson Tatum 3-pointer with 6:04 to go, then scored seven points in the rest of the way.

Calls were wrong

The NBA released its last Two Minute Report from the Raptors’ 125-122 Game 6 win in double overtime, and the league said two calls in favor of the Celtics were missed.

The first came with four seconds to go in regulation when Kemba Walker drove to the basket in a 98-98 game. The league said a foul should have been whistled on Toronto’s OG Anunoby, who hit Walker near the basket.

According to the NBA, the three referees missed a travel by Norman Powell with 1:34 remaining in the first overtime, and he was fouled two seconds later. Powell made two free throws to give the Raptors a 106-104 lead.

Around the rim

According to Elias Sports, when eight Celtics and Raptors played at least 50 minutes each Wednesday night, it was the first time in playoff history that had happened. The previous high was six players. … Kyle Lowry went 53 minutes, tying for the third most by a player in his 14th season or later, according to Elias Sports. The other names on that list are John Havlicek, Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain. … The Raptors became the third team to force a deciding game with a Game 6 win in two or more overtimes. The other two teams were the 1974 Bucks and 2009 Chicago Bulls, both against the Celtics. … Gordon Hayward was expected to be allowed out of quarantine on Friday. Hayward left the Disney World bubble after suffering a right ankle injury and returned at the beginning of this week. He is still not close to a return to the court.

fenton@enterprisenews.com

On Twitter at @JFenton_ent