Jayson Tatum's 51 points guide Celtics to NBA Eastern Conference finals

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Jayson Tatum on Sunday set an NBA Game 7 record for most points and took last year's runners-up Boston Celtics to the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference finals.

The Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 112-88 at Boston's TD Garden to win Game 7 in the East semifinals. Boston will next face the Miami Heat in the East finals beginning on Wednesday.

Four-time NBA All-Star Tatum, 25, scored 51 points against the Sixers to have a historic night for him.

Tatum, a Celtics player since 2017, took 13 rebounds as well.

Boston guard Jaylen Brown scored 25 points to contribute to the win.

Tobias Harris led Sixers, scoring 19 points. Tyrese Maxey scored 17 points for Philadelphia.

Philadelphia's All-Star center Joel Embiid, who recently took the 2022-23 NBA Most Valuable Player award, added 15 points.

The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals as Game 1 of the series will be held in Denver on Tuesday.