Heat Force Game 7 With Road Win Over Celtics
The Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics, 111-103, at TD Garden on Friday in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series is now tied 3-3.
The Heat had their backs against the wall once again, but as it has been the trend all series long, they delivered when it mattered the most and managed to win on the road against a Celtics team that just couldn’t hold on to their late lead. Miami got off to a better start, however, and they grabbed a seven-point lead following the opening 12 minutes before the Celtics responded. Boston won the second quarter by a 24-19 score and was right in the thick of leading in various moments of the second half, but the Heat always found a way to respond. Miami restored their seven-point lead with a 34-29 score in the third quarter, but the Celtics managed to crawl back. They grabbed the lead midway through the fourth with a corner three from Derrick White, but the Heat closed things out late in the fourth to secure the win. The series will now be decided in a pivotal do-or-die game this Sunday at FTX Arena.
Jimmy Butler was the star of the game for the Heat since he finished with 47 points, but he also contributed nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals in 46 minutes. No other Heat player reached the 20-point mark, though Kyle Lowry had 18 points and 10 assists, and Max Strus contributed 13 points, two rebounds and two assists. Bam Adebayo finished with just six points and nine boards, while P.J. Tucker chipped in with 11 points and five boards.
Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 30 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jaylen Brown recorded 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Marcus Smart added 14 points and four rebounds. Robert Williams recorded 12 points, and Derrick White had 22 points coming off the bench.
The Heat had their backs against the wall once again, but as it has been the trend all series long, they delivered when it mattered the most and managed to win on the road against a Celtics team that just couldn’t hold on to their late lead. Miami got off to a better start, however, and they grabbed a seven-point lead following the opening 12 minutes before the Celtics responded. Boston won the second quarter by a 24-19 score and was right in the thick of leading in various moments of the second half, but the Heat always found a way to respond. Miami restored their seven-point lead with a 34-29 score in the third quarter, but the Celtics managed to crawl back. They grabbed the lead midway through the fourth with a corner three from Derrick White, but the Heat closed things out late in the fourth to secure the win. The series will now be decided in a pivotal do-or-die game this Sunday at FTX Arena.
Jimmy Butler was the star of the game for the Heat since he finished with 47 points, but he also contributed nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals in 46 minutes. No other Heat player reached the 20-point mark, though Kyle Lowry had 18 points and 10 assists, and Max Strus contributed 13 points, two rebounds and two assists. Bam Adebayo finished with just six points and nine boards, while P.J. Tucker chipped in with 11 points and five boards.
Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 30 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jaylen Brown recorded 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Marcus Smart added 14 points and four rebounds. Robert Williams recorded 12 points, and Derrick White had 22 points coming off the bench.