2023 Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 vs Celtics

Lore & Background

The Heat led the series 3–0 before the Celtics won the next three games to force a game 7, in hopes of becoming the first NBA team to overcome a 3–0 series deficit. Miami won game 7 on the road by a score of 103–84, earning their seventh overall NBA Finals appearance. Jimmy Butler was named the Eastern Conference finals MVP, while Caleb Martin, who averaged just 9.6 points in the regular season, finished the conference finals averaging 19.3 points.

In Their Own Story

The air inside TD Garden was thick with tension, a suffocating mix of Boston's hope and Miami's quiet resolve. With the clock ticking down in the fourth quarter, the Heat trailed by only a few points, but the momentum had already shifted. Butler drove through traffic, his eyes locked on the rim, drawing fouls from defenders who seemed desperate to stop him. The crowd fell silent as he sank a mid-range jumper, the sound of the net snapping echoing louder than any cheer. On the Miami bench, players stood in unison, their jerseys soaked with sweat and determination, knowing they were one win away from immortality.

Reader's Guide

The Heat became the first eight-seeded team since the 1999 New York Knicks to reach the NBA Finals, and the first eighth-seeded team to reach the Finals in a full 82-game regular season. Outside of Butler and Bam Adebayo, the Heat got a majority of their playoff production from undrafted players such as Martin, Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson, and Max Strus, as well as veterans Kyle Lowry, Cody Zeller, and Kevin Love.

Did You Know?

• The Heat were the second No. 8 seed to reach the Finals, along with the New York Knicks in the 1999 NBA Finals.
• Tyler Herro did not play in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals due to a broken hand suffered in Game 1 of the first round.
• The Heat overcame a 3–0 deficit in the series? No, they led 3–0 and then the Celtics won three games before Miami won Game 7.