Celtics vs. Heat score, takeaways: Jimmy Butler shines as Miami forces a Game 7 with pivotal win over Boston

The Miami Heat isn’t dead yet. Jimmy Butler led the Eastern Conference’s top seed team to a significant 111-103 victory in Game 6 at TD Garden, followed by Game 7 on Sunday night at South Beach, extending the series to the title. Hope to be alive.

Butler was great for Miami as he won with a high score of 47 points with 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. Butler also got a lot of help when Kyle Lowry submitted one of his best games after the season and finished with 18 points, 10 assists and 4 boards before finally fouling out.

In Boston, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown did everything they could to lead the Celtics to the first final berth since 2010, but in the end, the two combined 50 points, 15 rebounds. Achieving 9 assists was not enough. Combined 15/25 from the field.

Now we enjoy the best that sports can offer on Sunday night. Game 7.

The four important points from the game are:

1. Butler has his own “Revlon Game 6” moment

Ten years ago, the Celtics returned home with a chance to get things done by winning Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Miami, taking a 3-2 lead in the heat. LeBron James didn’t make it happen because he put together his famous “Game 6” performance and finished with 45 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists to break the Celtics dream.

Butler replayed that role on Friday night.

After no shows in the last few games, he was tremendous in this game. Drive into the lane for a powerful finish and free throws, jump into the overtaking lane for Steel, a tough jumper to beat the shot clock-he did a little bit to stay alive in the heat season. ..

In the end, he finished with 47 points, the highest in the playoff career and the second highest in heat franchise history, adding nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Butler spent some huge nights throughout his career, including the final, so it may not be his best performance, but it’s right there.

2. Miami finally made some shots

In games 4 and 5, Heat shot a total of 60-of-184 (32.6%) from the entire field and 21-of-81 (25.9%) from 3 points of land. They were out of gas, there seemed to be no answer to the defense of the Elite Celtics, and there was little reason to expect things to turn around in Game 6.

But, of course, that’s why we play games, as the old saying goes. While Butler is leading, another key factor in the heat’s season-saving win is that they finally made some shots. They knocked down 15 3 pointers. This was the most in the game in this series, the second most in the overall playoffs, and shot 46.2% from the field.

More importantly, they came up with all the clutch shots they needed. With the exception of too many foulings, the Celtics’ defense was once again big and impressive. The shotmaking of the heat was just right. Over and over again they put their hands on their faces and hit deep 3 seconds and shot clocking beat jumpers.

This of Max Strus was awesome.

3. Celtics cannot close it completely

“We won there, but we’re making it harder than we need to be,” Celtics head coach Emei Yudoka summed up at a post-match press conference.

The Celtics took part in Game 6 on Friday night, closing the series and having the first chance to reach the finals since 2010. Instead, you’ll have to travel to Miami again for Game 7. Win your third victory in the series to stay alive in their season.

And while Jimmy Butler’s efforts and heat shotmaking shouldn’t be underestimated, it feels like the Celtics have won.

First and foremost, they flipped the ball too often. The first play of the game was a bad pass from Jayson Tatum, and they ended up with a 17 turnover that led to 23 points for the heat. Again, the formula is very simple. When the Celtics take care of the ball, they win. In the playoffs, 15 or more turnovers will be 1-4, and less than that number will be 10-12.

Another classic Celtics problem that occurred in Game 6 was an inadequate attack later in the game. Derrick White hit three pointers and came forward with 97-94 with 4:47 left. They scored only 6 points on the remaining roads, four of which were on the free throw line. In the closing stretch, two turnovers were one-seventh off the field. They slowed things down and tried to play isolated basketball, as they happen too often in these situations, but they didn’t look good.

The good news from the Celtics perspective is that these are fixable issues and show the ability to bounce off the playoffs. After losing, it is 5-0, of which 4 wins are double-digit numbers. The bad news is to make it 6-0. This means you have to win Game 7 on the road. This is not a simple suggestion.

4. Big white nights are wasted

When the Celtics exchanged for Derrick White on the deadline, Josh Richardson said the team had given up too much by sending their 2022 first round picks and 2028 first round pick swaps to San Antonio Spurs. There was a person who felt it. However, Brad Stevens took action because he felt that White had given the team a chance to compete for the title.

The playoffs so far have proven Stevens to be right. When Marcus Smart was out of the lineup due to an injury, White stepped up in many places, giving them another defensive-minded guard who could handle the ball and involve others. But on Friday night, what stood out was White’s score.

White delivered because the Celtics were in desperate need of sparks in the fourth quarter. He hit two three-pointers and then drove inside in search of one that roared and celebrated the ecstatic crowd. He then re-entered, with the Celtics still trying to take the lead. First, a sharp path to find Al Horford for a game that ties three, then another three of himself from the corner to put the Celtics in front.

He finished with steals from the bench with 22 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 playoffs. Alas, it wasted because the Celtics couldn’t control the stretch.