BOSTON (AP) — Moments after Boston’s dramatic victory in Miami Saturday night, Jaylen Brown began thinking about the future. He raised his hands, raised seven fingers, and started shouting, “Game 7! Game 7!”
Game 7, in fact.
The Browns and Boston are on the brink of history after Derrick White elevated his team to a team104-103 victoryover the Heat in Game 6. One of the league’s most iconic teams is attempting to become the first team in NBA playoff history to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series.
Next up is another Eastern Conference Finals game Monday night in Boston. And it looks as if the back-and-forth chain of events could be on its way to an epic conclusion.
The Celtics are the fourth NBA team to erase a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series and force a deciding game. The previous three teams — the 1951 New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, the 1994 Denver Nuggets in the second round, and the 2003 Portland Trail Blazers in the first round — have all lost Game 7, all on the road.
“We have another chance, another chance,” said Jason Tatum, who had 31 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in Game 6, joining Larry Bird as the only other player with double-digit playoff appearances with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. “It’s far from over. It’s still an uphill battle. But it’s always good to give yourself another chance, another chance.”
Boston is looking to extend a wild postseason trip that already includes five wins when facing elimination — twice in the Eastern Semifinals after trailing 3-2 to 76, and now three straight against the Heat.
The Celtics are 27-9 in Game 7s and have won their last four games — including a 112-88 win over Philadelphia in the previous round that featured Tatum breaking 51 points, the most in a Game 7 in NBA history. Boston also beat the Heat in Game 7 in MiamiEast Finals last yearWhen Jimmy Butler fouled what would have been a three-way go-ahead with about 17 seconds remaining.
The Heat is 6-5 all-time in Game 7s, losing the last two. Miami 0-2 when facing such a game on the road.
The winner of Sunday’s game will advance to face the Western Conference champion, the Denver Nuggets, in the NBA Finals.
Despite being denied a place in the Finals in three straight games, Miami coach Eric Spoelstra said his message to the team after Saturday’s loss was to simply focus on the game ahead. Let the past be the past.
“Let’s go around each other,” Spoelstra said. “These are emotional games and things can swing in those Game 7s. The pressure can swing back and forth in Game 7s a little bit. We’re not going anywhere.”
But what’s most troubling for the Heat, which starts Monday, is that the Celtics – who usually rely on their ability to shoot three points – pulled away a win on Saturday despite hitting 7 of 35 attempts from deep.
Plus, even Butler’s stunning 10-point rush in just over two minutes to put the Heat ahead was mostly a non-factor on a night that only went 5-of-21 from the field. Over the past three games, Butler has shot 19 of 55.
He said it did not shake his determination to do what he could to prevent what could be a disappointing end for Miami.
“You’re going to get the same test until you pass it, I swear,” Butler said. We were in the same situation last year. We can do it. I know we will. We have to go ahead and win in a very, very, very difficult environment.”
This environment happened to be the city that was home to the first—and still the only—team in Major League Baseball history to pull off a 3-0 comeback.
That team, the 2004 World Series champion Red Sox, rallied from that slot in the American League Championship Series against the rival New York Yankees.
It makes sense that the Celtics would be in a position to pull off the previously unthinkable, said 2004 ALCS MVP David Ortiz.
“Yeah, and there will never be a better time for that to happen,” Ortiz saidInterview with the Associated Press. “If you’re doing it in basketball, it has to be the same city.”
The Celtics are just 5-5 at home during this playoff, but there’s no place they’d rather be with their season on the line.
“It’s going to be huge. The two best words in sports are Game 7,” Brown said. “And with our home crowd, I know they’re going to bring energy. So, I’m excited.”
No information was received about the status of Boston goalkeeper Malcolm Brogdon in the seventh game. The NBA sixth man missed Saturday night’s win with a right forearm strain.
Boston Reserves were outpaced 22-11 in Brogdon’s absence. Robert Williams III went into the locker room late in the second quarter with a left wrist injury, but came back in the second half and finished with 10 points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes of the night.