Heat, Celtics prepare for Game 7 with NBA Finals berth at stake

BOSTON (AP)— Moments after Boston’s dramatic win at Miami on Saturday night,Jaylen Brown began thinking about the future. He raised his hands,put up seven fingers and began yelling, “Game 7! Game 7!”

Game 7,indeed.

Brown andBoston are on the brink of history after Derrick White’sbuzzer-beating putback lifted the Celtics to a104-103victoryover the Heat in Game 6. One of the league’s moststoried franchises is trying to become the first team in NBAplayoffs history to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-sevenseries.

Next up isone more game in the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night inBoston. And it looks as if the back-and-forth series could be onits way to an epic conclusion.

The Celticsare the fourth NBA team to erase a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-sevenseries and force a deciding game. The previous three teams — the1951 New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, the 1994 Denver Nuggets inthe second round and the 2003 Portland Trail Blazers in the firstround — lost Game 7, all on the road.

“We’ve gotanother chance, another opportunity,” said Jayson Tatum, who had 31points, 11 rebounds and five assists in Game 6 to join Larry Birdas the only other Celtic with double-digit playoff games with atleast 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. “It’s far from over.Still an uphill battle. But it always feels good to give yourselfanother chance, another opportunity.”

Boston islooking to extend a wild postseason ride that already includes fivewins when facing elimination — twice in the East semifinals afterfalling behind 3-2 to the 76ers, and now three straight timesagainst the Heat.

The Celticsare 27-9 in Game 7s and have won their last four — including a112-88 win against Philadelphia in the previous round that featuredTatum breaking out for 51 points, the most in a Game 7 in NBAhistory. Boston also beat the Heat in Game 7 in Miamiinlastyear’s East finalswhen Jimmy Butler missed what wouldhave been a go-ahead 3-pointer with about 17 seconds left.

The Heatare 6-5 all-time in Game 7s, losing their last two. Miami is 0-2when facing such a game on the road.

The winnerof Sunday’s matchup will advance to face the Western Conferencechampion Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals.

Despitebeing denied a finals berth in three straight games, Miami coachErik Spoelstra said his message to the team after Saturday’s losswas just to focus on the next game. Let the past be the past.

“Let’s justrally around each other,” Spoelstra said. “These are emotionalgames and things can swing in that Game 7. The pressure can go backand forth in Game 7s quite a bit. We’re not going anywhere.”

But whatmay be most concerning for the Heat heading into Monday is theCeltics — typically reliant on their ability to make 3-point shots— were able to pull out Saturday’s win despite making a playoff-low7 of 35 attempts from deep.

Inaddition, until Butler’s incredible flurry of 10 points in justover two minutes to put the Heat in front, he was mostly anon-factor on a night in which he went just 5 of 21 from the field.Over the past three games Butler has shot a combined 19 of 55.

He said ithasn’t shaken his resolve to do what he can to prevent what wouldbe a disappointing finish for Miami.

“You’regoing to get the same test until you pass it, I swear,” Butlersaid. “We were in this same position last year. We can do it. Iknow that we will do it. We’ve got to go on the road and win in avery, very, very tough environment.”

Thatenvironment just happens to be the city that is home to the first —and still only — team in Major League Baseball history to pull offa 3-0 series comeback.

That squad,the 2004 World Series champion Red Sox, rallied from that hole inthe American League Championship Series against the rival New YorkYankees.

DavidOrtiz, the 2004 ALCS MVP, said it makes sense that the Celtics arein position to pull off what has previously been unthinkable.

“Yeah, andthere’d be no better time than this one for that happen,” Ortizsaid in aninterviewwith The Associated Press. “If you do it in basketball, it’sgot to be the same city.”

The Celticsare just 5-5 at home during these playoffs, but there is no placethere would rather be with their season on the line.

“It’s goingto be huge. The best two words in sports is ‘Game 7,’” Brown said.“And our home crowd, I know they’re going to bring the energy. So,I’m excited.”

There wasno word on the status of Boston guard Malcolm Brogdon for Game 7.The NBA Sixth Man of the Year missed Saturday night’s win with aright forearm strain.

Boston’sreserves were outscored 22-11 in Brogdon’s absence. Robert WilliamsIII went to the locker room late in the second quarter with a leftwrist injury, but he returned in the second half and finished with10 points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes on the night.