Getty Image / Mike Ehrmann
The Boston Celtics have struggled to close out games all postseason. And, in a must-win game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals in Miami against the Heat, they struggled to close it out again. They blew a ten-point lead late in the fourth quarter, but were bailed out by one of the most remarkable moments in the history of one of America’s most successful sports franchises.
The Celtics led 98-88 with 4:30 remaining in the game, but the Heat made a frantic comeback and cut it to two points and had possession of the ball in the closing seconds. Then, this happened.
Jimmy Butler was FOULED by Al Horford on this 3-point attempt with 3 seconds left 🤯
Butler went to the line and made all 3 free throws. Miami leads 103-102 with 3 seconds left.pic.twitter.com/9HdZqXtwHQ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 28, 2023
And, he made all three free throws, which means the Celtics had to score to keep the series and season alive.
JIMMY BUTLER. CLUTCH! pic.twitter.com/TiLKv7rh5q
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 28, 2023
Luckily for them, Derrick White came up with one of the great plays in Celtics and NBA history.
DERRICK WHITE FOR THE WIN 😱 pic.twitter.com/hinMigekhp
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 28, 2023
Derrick White was THE INBOUNDER on this play! In less than 3 seconds, he:
1) Inbounded the ball.
2) Spaced to the corner for a potential kick-back pass.
3) Read Smart's shot and crashed the glass.
4) Tipped in the game-winner.Just an absurd basketball IQ and high-effort play. pic.twitter.com/n5xn1z7eet
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) May 28, 2023
And, EVERYONE was tweeting about it.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhuhhhhhhhh
Let’s goooooooooooooooooooo— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) May 28, 2023
Wowwwwwwwwwwww
Game 7 in Boston!!!
This is what the playoffs are about!!
🔥🔥🔥🔥— Damion Lee (@Dami0nLee) May 28, 2023
😱😱😱
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 28, 2023
"I'm still in disbelief. That s*** was crazy."
– Jayson Tatum on final play pic.twitter.com/zeuqW99MsE
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 28, 2023
And, we are headed to a game 7 on Monday night in Boston. The Celtics will look to be the first team too ever to come back from a 3-0 series deficit and win the series.