Celtics Make NBA History with Game 6 Comeback, Look to Secure Victory in Game 7 Against Heat
The Boston Celtics have made history by becoming the first NBA team to come back from a 0-3 series deficit to force a Game 7.[0] In an improbable Game 6 finish, Derrick White made a game-winning tip-in with less than half a second remaining, snatching the victory from the Miami Heat's grasp and giving the Celtics the chance to complete the comeback.[0] The Celtics will have home-court advantage in Game 7, where they are 27-9 and have won their last four games. With the opportunity of making NBA history on the line, the Celtics will be looking to shoot well from beyond the arc and get stops to win comfortably while holding the Heat to a pitiful number.
The Heat, who were a literal second away from advancing, now have to pick themselves up off the canvas and play a Game 7 against the Celtics for the second straight year.[0] The Heat still own a 3-2 advantage in the series, but the Celtics have momentum on their side after winning three straight games. However, it's hard to envision the Heat beating the Celtics in Game 7, especially if Boston continues to make their 3-pointers.[0] The Celtics have a 71% winning percentage in the last two playoff runs when they make at least 35% of their 3s, and they are 3-1 against the Heat in such games.
Malcolm Brogdon, the Sixth Man of the Year title holder, will not be playing in Game 6 due to a strain in his right forearm.[0] But the Celtics found a way to win despite shooting 7-of-35 (20%) from 3-point range in Game 6, and they were 0-6 in the postseason when making less than 15 3s coming into the game.
The Heat's three-point shooting spiked back up to early-series levels in Game 6, but the Celtics found their way to the free throw line with greater assertiveness, putting themselves in the bonus with a whopping nine minutes remaining in the quarter.[0] The Boston lead stretched into double-figures, spearheaded by a lights-out performance from Jayson Tatum, who was cooking from midrange and torching Miami's defenders off the dribble.[0]
0. “NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Matt Moore's Bets for Heat vs. Celtics Game 7 (May 29)” The Action Network, 29 May. 2023, https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/nba-odds-picks-predictions-bets-heat-vs-celtics-game-7-may-29-eastern-conference-finals
