The National Basketball Association (NBA) Boston Celtics had all the laughs in Game 6 of the best-of-three elimination (lose and you’re out) Eastern Conference Finals.
Boston won 104-103 in Game 6 of the NBA Playoffs (PO) Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat on Monday (Feb. 28) at the Amway Center in Miami. Miami took a one-point lead with three seconds left, but failed to secure the rebound on the final inbounds possession, allowing Derrick White to score the game-winning basket.
Boston evened the series at 3-3 after an 0-3 start with the win. The Celtics have defeated Miami in all three elimination games. In the 150 series that have started 0-3 in the NBA PO 7s, a team with a three-game losing streak has never been able to turn it around. Boston had a chance to become the first. Game 7, which will decide the fateful NBA Finals, will take place on April 30 at TD Garden in Boston.
Miami, on the other hand, missed a chance to smile in front of its home fans. Jimmy Butler, who has led his team out of several crunches since the start of the PO, scored 10 points with two minutes left in the fourth quarter to bring his team back into the game, but he couldn’t stop White on the final inbounds pass.
It was the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown duo that won the game. Tatum (31 points) and Brown (26 points) combined for 57 points to lead the offense. Marcus Smart added 21 points, while White shined with 11 points, six assists, three blocks and one steal, including the game-winner.
Miami rallied down the stretch, but ultimately couldn’t make up for its poor first-half shooting. Butler scored his final 24 points on a 10-point run with two minutes left in the fourth quarter, but he was held to 23.8 percent shooting for the game. Bam Adebayo was also held to 11 points.
It was Boston that jumped out to an early lead. They took a 57-53 lead at halftime. They continued to chip away at the lead in the third quarter, taking a 22-19 lead. 토토사이트
Facing defeat, the Celtics used their hustle to draw a lot of fouls from Miami.
The game changed dramatically midway through the fourth quarter. Boston’s shots began to fall, and Miami was able to pull away with the help of its bench, most notably Butler with two minutes left. Butler hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to four with a steal. On the next possession, he drew a two-point foul and made one to bring the score to 97-100.
After Boston added a point on a free throw, Butler again drove in for an end-one. Butler made the extra free throw to make it a one-point game, 100-101.
Tatum’s attempt with 23 seconds left clanged off the rim, and Robinson’s no-mark three-point attempt on the counterattack hit the rim. All that remained was to foul, and Smart made just 1 of 2 to keep the lead at two.
It was Butler again in crunch time. With three seconds left, Butler again drew a three-point shooting foul and made all three free throws. He scored 10 points in two minutes, pushing Boston to the brink.
But it was Boston that had the last laugh. Smart’s three-point attempt after the buzzer clanged off the rim, but White tipped it in immediately to give them the lead. After the 0.3-second miracle, there was silence in Miami.