The Boston Celtics were able to beat the Miami Heat to advance to a do-or-die Game 7 for both teams. The closing minutes of this game were classic.
In a playoff classic, the Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat, 104-103, in Game 6.
This was the best game of the playoffs considering the late-game moments. Yes, the threes missed by Boston and the total offense was horrible for Miami but the closing minutes were incredible.
The game started out with Boston missing all of their threes (besides Marcus Smart and Derrick White). Still Miami couldn’t take advantage due to the fact that couldn’t make a shot either. Jimmy Butler heavily struggled until the fourth quarter.
The game basically stayed like this unlike late in the fourth quarter when Miami started to make a comeback.
Duncan Robinson missed two late-game threes to take the lead. Still, the Heat got in front due to Jimmy Butler being able to make three-straight free throws with seconds left on the clock.
It seemed like the Heat were going to the NBA Finals until Derrick White grabbed a Marcus Smart missed three to win the game for the Celtics on an offensive rebound turned layup.
3 reasons the Celtics won Game 6 over the Heat
Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum continued to shoot horribly from the three-point line but he still was the best player on the floor for three-quarters of this game. He end up attempting eight threes and did not make any of them.
Going forward, Tatum has to stop taking threes. The spacing in Boston is fine and does not need Tatum chucking up shots.
Regardless, Tatum ended up with 31 points. He was able to draw fouls very well as he went to the line 15 times. He was perfect from the free throw line in a game where Boston needed every point.
Tatum was good in this game from inside the arc. He ended up shooting 61 percent from inside. Also, he ended up with 11 rebounds and five assists.
Jaylen Brown
It was a bit tempting to put Marcus Smart here due to the fact that he was the only other Celtic that could shoot a three in this game, but Jaylen Brown was cooking on the offensive end for the Celtics.
Brown’s defense was very good in this game as well, as he helped lock down Butler for three quarters.
Again it was a similar game for Tatum’s co-star. He was amazing from everywhere on the court except on the three-point line. He ended up with 26 points and 10 rebounds, going 75 percent from the floor.
Derrick White
This game will go down in the history of the Boston Celtics (which is saying something) after Derrick White’s buzzer-beater. Besides his offensive rebound that turned into the game-winner, he ended up continuing his hot streak from three.
He cooled down a bit from Game 5 but this was still a very solid performance as he was able to provide spacing for the Celtics. He ended up with 11 points on 40 percent shooting from the floor with three three-pointers.
Boston will probably not shoot like that in Game 7 of this series. Considering the fact that the game is at home, it is more likely that the Celtics will not throw the game away from the three point line.
With the game on the road for the Heat, it is more likely that the Miami offense will continue to struggle. Yes, Butler will come back to earth but the rest of their offense is very concerning. If the Heat want to win Game 7 and avoid history, Bam Adebayo will need to step up on the road.