Can the Celtics make history after forcing a do-or-die Game 7 against the Heat? – The Denver Post

History has already been made. The Boston Celtics just have to make it one more time.

A week ago, the Miami Heat were destined for a trip to the NBA Finals. They were alleged world-beaters who hadn’t only dismissed Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks in five first-round games, but were on pace to do the same to the Celtics by taking a commanding 3-0 Eastern Conference Finals series lead.

Now, in the blink of an eye, the series is even. There will be a Game 7 — in Boston of all places — and now it’s the Celtics who once again look like Goliaths compared to a Heat team devoid of the confidence it once exuded.

Only four teams in NBA history have ever come back from down 0-3 to force a Game 7: The Rochester Royals did it to the Knicks back in 1951; the Denver Nuggets came back to force Game 7 against the Utah Jazz in 1994; the Portland Trail Blazers stunned Dirk Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks to force Game 7 after trailing 0-3 in the first round in 2003.

And now, there are these Celtics, who aim to be the first team ever to complete the series comeback, as each of their three predecessors lost in Game 7.

“I’m excited that we just gave ourselves another chance,” said All-Star forward Jayson Tatum, who missed all eight of his three-point attempts but made all 15 of his free throws and finished with 31 points, 12 rebounds and five assists on the night. “We didn’t play well. The first three games we didn’t deserve to win, and we really took it one game at a time. The series isn’t over. We still have a big game Monday, but the grit that we showed to get to this moment, I’m proud of that. I’m proud to be on this team, and I’ve never been this excited to go back to Boston in my life.”

The way it happened was almost poetic. After all, the Heat appeared to have sealed the deal with mere seconds left on the game clock.

Heat All-Star Jimmy Butler drew a foul on Celtics center Al Horford while shooting a corner three. It was the third straight time Butler had forced his way to the line — his bread and butter — down the stretch, and he made all three free throws to give Miami a one-point lead with just three ticks left in regulation.

During the timeout that followed, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla designed a pin-down screen for Tatum to get a clean look at a game-winner.

But the Heat took that away.

Instead, the ball went to Marcus Smart, who took a fading, contested three-pointer that barely rimmed out. While Smart’s jumper was in the air, new Celtics starter Derrick White crashed from the left corner to the rim. He beat every other player on the floor to the rebound and tipped the ball off the glass and through the net, beating the final buzzer — and the Heat — on the same play.

“Ooooh-weeee. Oh my God. That was incredible. Man,” Tatum said. “We drew up a play. They kinda took that away. We just crashed the glass and everything was like a blur after that. D-White tipped it in, but that felt like the longest 10 seconds ever waiting for confirmation if he made it or not.

“I’m still in disbelief. That sh— was crazy.”

The Heat have been here before. At least in theory.

Just last season they lost to the Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston advanced to the NBA Finals and lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.

“You’re gonna get the same test until you pass it. We were in the same position last year, and we can do it,” Butler said after Game 6. The Heat star had a night to forget: Despite marching to the line down the stretch and putting his team in position to win, Butler still shot just 5-of-21 from the field for his 24 points.

In fact, it’s been a poor stretch of games for the same player who averaged 37 points in the first round against Milwaukee. He has had poor games — or poor stretches during critical moments — in each of Boston’s three wins.

“I told the guys in the locker room that if I play better, we’re not even in this position, honestly speaking, and I will be better,” he said. “And that’s what makes me smile because those guys follow my lead, so when I’m playing better. I think we’re playing better as a whole.”

History is on Miami’s side. This is as far as any team has ever come after trailing a playoff series, 0-3. Most teams in that predicament don’t make it this far. The Celtics are proving they aren’t most teams.

But are they a one-of-one? Can they win a fourth straight game against the same Heat team that won the first three games of this series?

History might be on the Heat’s side, but all the momentum in the world is with Boston.

“We all talked about it. We’re all aware. It’s not time to celebrate. We didn’t accomplish anything,” said Tatum. “We won a game, a big game that we had to win in an incredible fashion. We’re proud of the way we played, proud of the way we figured it out, but the job is far from finished.

“We’ve got to be ready on Monday. It’s not over.”

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