The Miami Heat seemed dead and buried after the Boston Celtics registered a comfortable 93-80 win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The talk had already shifted to a Celtics-Warriors matchup in the NBA Finals, but the Heat stunned the NBA world with a 111-103 win on the road in Game 6 to stave off elimination.
After looking like a shell of himself from Games 3 to 5, Jimmy Butler stepped up when it mattered most, as he poured in a playoff career-high 47 points to drag the Heat to victory. They now take all the momentum into a do-or-die Game 7 in Miami and NBA fans couldn’t believe what they were witnessing.
JIMMY BUCKETS 🔥
Playoff career high for Jimmy Butler. pic.twitter.com/FGqo3XlUqE
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 28, 2022
The Heat got the Jimmy Butler they needed. What a performance pic.twitter.com/e3GmBTXMte
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) May 28, 2022
2012 East Finals, Heat down 3-2 in Boston: LeBron 45/15/5 on 19-26 FG, 2-4 threes, 5-9 FT, 4 turnovers in 45 minutes
2022 East Finals, Heat down 3-2 in Boston: Jimmy Butler 47/9/8 on 16-29, 4-8 threes, 11-11 FT, 4 steals, 1 turnover in 46 minutes
— Trenton Jocz (@TrentonJocz) May 28, 2022
JIMMY BUTLER IS UNBELIEVABLE pic.twitter.com/ZyMIeAKz6U
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 28, 2022
Jimmy Butler tonight:
47 PTS (career playoff high)
9 REB
8 AST
4 STL
16-29 FG
4-8 3P
in 46 MINS
Only LeBron has scored more in Heat playoff history. pic.twitter.com/QlmUHQdmAj
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 28, 2022
THANK YOU, JIMMY BUTLER, FOR REDEEMING YOURSELF WITH ONE OF THE GREAT ROAD PLAYOFF PERFORMANCES IN NBA HISTORY. WHY YOU WOULDN'T ATTACK IN THE LAST THREE GAMES I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND. NOW, CAN YOU PLEASE COME OUT FIRING ON SUNDAY NIGHT???
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 28, 2022
Game 6 Jimmy Butler pic.twitter.com/zhT0iEDoAt
— cryptic incognito (@CrypticNoHoes) May 28, 2022
That was an amazing game. This series has been WILD. Jimmy Butler is absolutely iconic. I’m hype af.
— Joy Taylor (@JoyTaylorTalks) May 28, 2022
That game by Jimmy Butler is on the Mt Rushmore of @MiamiHEAT playoff performances.
Historic.
— Greg Sylvander (@GregSylvander) May 28, 2022
Jimmy butler top 5 nba player
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) May 28, 2022
Jimmy Butler put on one of the greatest performances I have ever seen from a Heat player.
Game 7. Winner takes all in Miami.
— Austin (@AustK14) May 28, 2022
Yeah never going for Jimmy Butler slander
Dude walked into TD Garden in an elimination game and dropped 47 points
— Niko (@nikotaughtyou) May 28, 2022
The World Is Realizing That Jimmy Butler Is Better Than Jayson Tatum pic.twitter.com/FtljGrcbkz
— 𝐽𝑎𝑦🥏 (@stephcondones) May 28, 2022
Give me Jimmy Butler in an elimination game any day of the week.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) May 28, 2022
Kyle Lowry is a champion. PJ Tucker is a champion. Erik Spoelstra is a champion. If y’all gave up I feel bad for y’all
— Austin (@ChefTrillie) May 28, 2022
Celtics let Jimmy Butler look like Michael Jordan. That was CRAZYYYYY 😂 #Respectfully
— Respectfully Justin (@JustinLaboy) May 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/JJMaples55_MST/status/1530389769145884673
Jimmy Butler is a MONSTER
— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) May 28, 2022
Miami Heat the last two minutes of the 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/GCTK8To7tR
— Rome (@mynameisrome_) May 28, 2022
The two greatest words in sports…GAME 7! 👏
The Heat are going to back to Miami for a Game 7 against the Celtics. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LnKVxCfpZR
— theScore (@theScore) May 28, 2022
You would have been hard-pressed to find anyone outside of Heat Nation who would have seen this coming after they looked so helpless in Game 5. It speaks to the character of the team and the oft-mocked ‘Heat Culture’ which definitely played a part here. It is not easy to bounce back from a loss like that and they responded in some style.
The focus now shifts to the all-important Game 7 with the spot in the NBA Finals on the line. The Celtics have already played in a Game 7 in this playoff run, as they blew out the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in the Conference Semifinals, but that was at home. This time around, they need to get it done on the road, which is a completely different situation altogether.
If Miami gets this version of Jimmy Butler in Game 7, then it’s hard to see them on the losing side but the Celtics have hung their hat on defense all year and it is time for that defensive unit to step up when it matters the most. Regardless of what happens in the game, it sure seems set up to be an all-timer.
