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Kyle Lowry listened politely as Jimmy Butler shared the credit for winning the sixth game in Miami until his All-Star teammate took humility too far and rated his performance as 47 points to avoid the “decent” removal.
“It’s amazing,” Lowry corrected him, apologizing for his language on the TV cameras in the back of the room and asking the league not to fine him. “It’s amazing to have a guy like him by my side. I’ve played with great players, and he’s one of the best.”
Jimmy Butler (22) of the Miami Heat shoots Jayson Tatum (0) of the Boston Celtics during the second half of the sixth game of the NBA Basketball Eastern Conference Finals on Friday, May 27, 2022 in Boston. (Photo by AP / Michael Dwyer) (Photo by AP / Michael Dwyer)
Butler scored 47 points, a career high in the playoffs and one of the best performances of a player facing elimination in NBA history, and the Heat forced the finals of the playoffs. Eastern Conference to a decisive seventh game by beating the Boston Celtics 111-103 Friday night.
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Ten years after LeBron James scored 45 points in a 6th game in Boston on the way to the Heat’s first consecutive NBA title, Butler scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to beat him and send the series back to Miami.
With a home win, the Heat would advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.
“That’s how it should be, with these two teams. It should have been seven games,” said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. “I’m very excited that our team has a chance to compete in Game 7 in front of our local audience.”
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics sinks against the Miami Heat in the first half of the 6th game of the NBA Basketball Eastern Conference Eastern Conference Finals on Friday, May 27, 2022 in Boston. (Photo by AP / Michael Dwyer) (Photo by AP / Michael Dwyer)
The winner of Game 7 on Sunday will advance to the NBA Finals against Golden State, which eliminated the Dallas Mavericks in five games Thursday night. Warriors striker Draymond Green later said he hoped to play against the Celtics.
In the round-robin game of the series, Boston was 97-94 ahead of Derrick White’s triple with less than five minutes to play, the first time all series have changed hands in the fourth quarter. . Lowry responded with a 3 and then added two free throws while Miami scored 11 of the next 13 points.
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Lowry finished with 18 points and 10 assists before missing with 2:18 at the end. Butler made 16 of 29 shots, including 4 of 8 from the 3-point range, and all 11 free throws.
Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat leaves the court after the team’s victory over the Boston Celtics during the sixth game of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs on Friday, May 27, 2022 at Boston. (Photo by AP / Michael Dwyer) (Photo by AP / Michael Dwyer)
“He came out of the jump and put his mark on the game,” White said. “This is who he has been throughout his career, constantly attacking and doing what he can to help his team win. We knew he would come and we need to do a better job in Game 7.”
Jayson Tatum had 30 points and nine rebounds for Boston, and White came off the bench to score 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. The Celtics are trying to reach the finals for the first time since 2010, two years after Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen’s New Big Three won the 17th NBA title in the franchise, a record since the Lakers tied. .
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“It’s no secret: it’s game 7, a trip to the NBA Finals, a lot at stake,” Tatum said. “We know what’s at stake. We know what that means for everyone.”
Jaylen Brown scored 20 points for Boston, missing a pair of free throws with the game tied at 99 after Lowry started a foul. Brown fouled himself on a charge offense that was assessed after a challenge in a failed kill with 13 seconds left and the Celtics by four.