NBA: Miami Heat Advance to Finals
Photo: ESPN
BOSTON — It was a historic run for the Boston Celtics as they came back from a 0-3 match-up against the Miami Heat but the journey was cut short at the TD garden on Monday. It was a Jimmy Butler show for the majority of the series and Miami only needed one win to solidify their spot in the finals - just one. But instead, they allowed the Celtics to tie the series 3-3 in a grueling nail-biting buzzer finish from Derrick White in Game 6. White tossed the ball to Marcus Smart from the sideline, who was lined up and ready to take a shot. The ball went in and out of the basket and into the hands of Derrick White, who hit a layup with only 0.4 seconds left to spare, winning the game in Miami and causing the crowd to go silent in disbelief. In fact, many were already celebrating for Miami until the replay showed White's shot did count, and there will be a Game 7.
Photo: NBA
But it was Miami forward Jimmy Butler who showed up and showed out in Game 7. The Celtics faced a scary injury from Jason Tatum literally 26 seconds into the game with a tweaked ankle. Tatum returned to the game, but it was the Heat who came up on top. Butler balled out and won the Larry Bird trophy for Eastern Conference Finals MVP after leading his team to the NBA Finals. Butler scored 28 points, and Caleb Martin had 26 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Miami Heat beat the Celtics 103-84 and turn back Boston’s attempt at an unprecedented comeback. All in all, the Heat recovered after blowing a 3-0 lead in the series and advanced to the NBA Finals for the second time in four seasons. They will face the Western Conference champion Nuggets, with Game 1 in Denver on Thursday night.
Will Butler and the Heat keep this confidence as they face the Nuggets on Thursday?
