By Darnell "The Playmaker" Sallins
The Eastern Conference Finals is going to a Game Seven. However, the number of seven isn't the number to focus on. It's the number three. The Miami Heat won the first three games of the series and put the Boston Celtics in a deficit that has never been overcome in NBA history. After Game Three where the Heat dominated from start to finish winning by 26 points.
The Celtics, however, never lost faith especially in Game Four as they trailed by nine with 10:40 left in the third quarter. Then the Celtics would outscore the Heat 64-38 to avoid being swept. Game Five was all Celtics from start to finish winning by 13 and forcing a Game Six in Miami.
Now Game Six Saturday night, the third attempt for the Heat to reach the NBA Finals now back home. Third attempt for the Celtics to avoid elimination and force a Winner-Take-All Game Seven back home. Only three teams were able to force a Game Seven after trailing 3-0 in a series.
The Celtics controlled the first three quarters of Game Six, leading by seven going into the fourth quarter. The lead would ten at the 4:56 mark of the final quarter. The Heat would storm back as usual to cut lead to one after a Jimmy Butler's And-1 at 101-100 Boston. Marcus Samrt would add a free throw to the Celtics up two and then the craziness would ensure.
Duncan Robinson would have two tremendous looks from three-point range, but missed both looks. A turnover by the Celtics would keep the door open for the Heat. Jimmy Butler struggled all game, but the moment arrived for him to be the hero. Butler would get fouled by Al Horford shooting a three-pointer with three seconds to go. Butler would knock down all three free throws giving the Heat a 103-102 lead and the Heat are one stop away from reaching the NBA Finals.
On the hand, the Celtics are three seconds away from great season being ended in disappointing fashion. Nevertheless, there are three seconds left from something dramatic happening. Derrick White inbounds the ball to Marcus Smart because the Heat took Jayson Tatum out of the play and Smart quickly took a three pointer that rimmed out and White with 0.3 seconds left gets the putback and the Boston Celtics wins Game Six 104-103.
The Boston Celtics forces a Game Seven in three seconds with a putback at 0.3 seconds to beat the buzzer. The Celtics have won the last three games of the series after trailing 3-0 from the first games. The Celtics have now become the fourth to overcome an 3-0 deficit to force a Game Seven.
In NBA history, there have been 150 teams that trailed 3-0 in a series and none of them have overcome that deficit to win the series. Boston will look to make history on Monday night and more importantly, the Celtics will be the first team to host Game Seven after trailing 3-0 as the other three teams were the road team for Game Seven.
From 3-0 to 3-3 in three seconds after three free throws with a 0.3 putback buzzer-beater.
See you Monday night for Game Seven and a trip to the NBA Finals on the line at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.