The Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 104-103 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2022-2023 NBA Playoffs on Monday (Feb. 28) at the Amway Center in Miami, Florida. The win was Boston’s third straight after losing three straight. The series is now tied at three games apiece. With one more game to go, the Celtics will become the first team in NBA playoff history to win four straight games after losing three in a row to clinch the series.
Five players scored in double figures for Boston. Jaylen Brown (198 cm, G-F) scored 26 points, Jayson Tatum (203 cm, F), who dominated the first half, added 31 points, Marcus Smart (193 cm, G), a consistent scorer, added 21 points, and Robert Williams III (206 cm, F) added 10 points. Derrick White (193 cm, G), who scored a dramatic second-chance basket with 0.1 seconds left in the game, played the biggest role in the win with 11 points, including the game-winner.
Boston jumped out to an early lead. Although they faced a mid-game crisis, they never gave up the lead and went into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter was the problem. Miami’s ace Jimmy Butler (201 cm, F), who had been quiet for most of the game, came alive and Duncan Robinson (201 cm, F) found his outside game.
Butler’s three-point play and basket in the closing minutes of the game was particularly impressive, cutting the deficit to one point with 53 seconds left in regulation. From there, both teams missed shots, but it was Boston that capitalized first. Smart was fouled and got two free throws. However, he missed one.
Then it was Miami’s turn. Butler was called for a shooting foul with three seconds left in the game. Butler calmly made all three free throws to make it 103-102.
Boston was three seconds away from defeat. Calling timeout. It was Smart who took the shot on the crucial offense. With time running out, Smart attempted a three-pointer with one second left in the game, but missed. However, White grabbed the offensive rebound and converted the second chance points. With 0.1 seconds left in regulation, White’s goal gave Boston the win.
After scoring the game-winning goal, White became a Boston hero. This prompted Smart to speak up. “If anybody still doesn’t know who White is, they found 스포츠토토 out tonight,” Smart told NBC Celtics. He’s an unbelievable player. But he’s been great all season long, not just tonight, and it’s just such a joy to watch him play and to play with him.”
In fact, White played in all 82 games this season, averaging 12.4 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.6 rebounds. He was also named to the All-Defensive team for his play on defense.
White’s performance has continued in the playoffs. He’s been extremely efficient this postseason. He’s averaging 13.1 points on 51% shooting from the field, 47% from three-point range, and 92% from the free throw line. His defense remains a strength. It’s not flashy, but it has Boston’s back. And then there’s White, who hit a dramatic buzzer-beater in Game 6 to save the day.