2023-05-28 03:35:00
The Boston Celtics actually forced a Game 7 following trailing 0-3. Derrick White became a hero for the Celtics with a buzzerbeater following Jimmy Butler seemingly made Miami the winner with a furious final sprint. Boston wins 104-103.
What a drama! What a finish! With 3 seconds to go, Jimmy Butler almost got the Heat into the finals with three free throws converted, but Derrick White tapped a miss by Marcus Smart with the siren into the basket and thus extended the series once more.
Previously, Miami had turned the game around with a 12-2 run and 10 points from the previously disappointing Butler (24, 5/21, 11 rebounds, 8 assists) – and ended up empty-handed. The Heat lost a 3-0 lead and might now be the first team in NBA history to lose such a lead. Game 7 of the series takes place on Tuesday night at 2.30 a.m. German time.
Jayson Tatum had dominated the matchup with Butler for a long time, but the Celtics star was sometimes invisible followingwards, marking 25 of his 31 points in the first 24 minutes. Jaylen Brown had 26 points and 10 rebounds, Smart (21) hit four three-pointers. Six players on the Heat side scored in double digits, with role players like Caleb Martin (21, 7/13), Gabe Vincent (15) and Duncan Robinson (13, 5/11) keeping the hosts in the game for long. Bam Adebayo (11, 4/16, 13 boards), on the other hand, disappointed once more in attack.
Heat vs. Celtics: Tatum towers in first half
It was a lot of a Game 7, starting with Miami starting Martin for Kevin Love. Vincent (ankle) was also ready for action once more. Easy points were rare, but Boston got off to a better start thanks to Brown, who hit his jumpers and pushed the pace. Miami didn’t defend badly, the Celtics simply hit heavy throws (4/4 from midrange), only two of them from downtown. But Boston “only” led 34:29 because Martin (already 12 PTS) mightn’t miss any more shots.
Tatum, too, had found his rhythm following some initial difficulties, at times marking the forward 8 Celtics points in a row and helping Boston to be in the bonus following just three minutes in the second quarter. He dominated the matchup with Butler (9, 2/10), who barely got a turn because the Celtics wisely sent help whenever he made his moves. What kept Miami somewhat in the game, though, were the role-playing threesomes. Vincent sank three alone in that section, one of them on a late 12-3 run just before halftime, leaving Boston just 57-53 ahead.
Heat vs. Celtics: Derrick White rettet Bostons Saison
Offense was now a problem for Boston, and the Heat quickly drew fouls – including the fourth for Brown – and were in the bonus for nine minutes. Apart from Smart, no one hit a three for Boston, but Miami also cooled off with the exception of Martin. The Heat almost only free throws, the Celtics got some air with a 9:0 run. Tatum didn’t score a single point in this period (same for Butler), the Celtics once more failed to lead higher. Despite a terrible quarter, the Heat were still in the game (79:72 Celtics).
Only White ended the Celtics FG drought following almost six minutes, but Miami now had the upper hand. A three by Duncan Robinson, a putback by Butler and suddenly the hosts were ahead (83:82). But Boston didn’t crumble, instead the Celtics kept their nerve and countered with a 16:5 run because they attacked the ring. But Butler was there following all. Free throws and a three made it 97:100 from a heat point of view, Robinson missed the possible equalizer 80 seconds before the end, butler shortened it to -1 with an and-1 a little later.
And Miami managed another stop, this time Adebayo Tatum clearing, but once more it was Robinson who failed to sink a wide open three. Butler pulled a foul on a long-distance shot once morest the boisterous Al Horford with 3 seconds to go (We prefer not to say anything regarding the clear double dribble) and showed no nerves. It felt like the Heat were already in the finals – but then Derrick White came along.
The most important statistics
Miami Heat (E8) vs. Boston Celtics (E2) 103:104 (BOXSCORE), Serie: 3-3
- Tatum was already at 25 points at the break, clearly ahead of Butler. And yet the Heat were in full swing because they hit their threes. In the first half it was 9/15 while Boston stayed cold (3/15). The Heat sank only 39 percent of the field in the first 24 minutes (BOS: 51), especially in the zone (7/26 FG) almost nothing worked, here the guests did an excellent job.
- And so it went on. Miami only managed 32 points in 52 attempts in the zone. Overall, the Heat shot just 35 percent from the field, with the third quarter being the worst (5/27 FG). Ultimately, the Heat took 15 more shots than Boston.
- And even more amazing: The Heat also clearly won the duel on the three-way line (14/30 to 7/35) and lost the ball significantly less (5:12). In addition, Miami picked up 17 offensive rebounds (BOS: 12) and marched to the free-throw line 29 times (BOS: 34). Actually, almost everything scored for the Heat, but the winner was Boston.
- Derrick White’s buzzerbeater was only the sixth buzzerbeater to prevent his own team from being eliminated. The last time Kawhi Leonard succeeded with his legendary buzzerbeater over Joel Embiid once morest the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of the Conference Semifinals for the Toronto Raptors. At the same time, it was only the second buzzerbeater that prevented elimination following the team was behind before the throw. The other? Michael Jordan in 1989 once morest the Cleveland Cavaliers aka “The Shot”.
- The Celtics are only the fourth team to force a Game 7 from a 0-3 deficit. The comeback has never been completed, but Boston is now the first team to enjoy home advantage in Game 7.
Heat vs. Celtics: The thoughts on the game
Erik Spoelstra (Head Coach Heat): “I have no idea how we’re going to win this series, but we’re going to go there now and win this series. If it’s up to us, we can start right away. Right now!”
Derrick White (Celtics): “Everyone asked me if I got rid of the throw in time. I said I think so.”
Jimmy Butler (Heat): “If I had played better, we wouldn’t have been in this position in the first place.”
Jayson Tatum (Celtics): “I still can’t believe it. It’s all crazy. I’m just glad we got another chance.”
The top of the game: Derrick White
Without him, the Celtics season would be over – it’s as simple as that. Regardless of the outcome, the guard made some big plays in the fourth quarter, hit three-pointers in important moments and prevented the Heat from easy fast break points several times. His block once morest Butler’s jumpshot was also worth seeing.
The flop of the game: Bam Adebayo
Jimmy Butler’s name was there for 44 minutes, but Adebayo also only partially covered himself with fame. It was solid on defense, his block once morest Tatum was outstanding, but Miami needs offense from their stars and Adebayo once more failed to deliver. It’s bitter because that game was a golden opportunity due to the Celtics’ shooting problems.
NBA Playoffs: Die Stats-Leader bei Heat vs. Celtics
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