The unyielding nature of history remains intact as no team has ever overcome a 3-0 series deficit, a fact that persisted even in this series.
Caleb Martin, an undrafted player, stole the spotlight tonight by delivering a remarkable performance, scoring 26 points on an impressive 11-of-16 shooting. Martin’s exceptional contributions were consistent throughout the series, and he showed no signs of slowing down in Game 7.
Jayson Tatum’s unfortunate ankle injury occurred in the opening minute and hindered his ability to find his rhythm offensively, resulting in a modest 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting. Defensively, he was also unable to showcase his usual All-Defense caliber play, leaving the Celtics longing for his usual impact.
Given Tatum’s struggles, the Celtics heavily relied on Jaylen Brown to step up and deliver a standout performance. Regrettably for Boston fans, Brown fell significantly short of expectations, recording as many turnovers (8) as made shots (8-of-23 FG) and tallying only 19 points. The Heat consistently pressured him whenever he dribbled on the perimeter, exploiting his vulnerable ball-handling skills.
Continuing their postseason trend, Jimmy Butler and Caleb Martin shouldered the load for the Miami Heat. Butler, with a game-high 28 points, earned the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy, while Martin contributed a commendable 26 points.
Looking ahead, the Heat now advance to the NBA Finals where they will face the Nuggets on June 1