The Celtics entered Monday night’s Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals with the home crowd advantage and all the momentum imaginable after winning three straight games to tie the series. But they didn’t have Caleb Martin.
The Heat wing enjoyed a breakout series and saved his best for last, scoring 26 points on 11-for-16 shooting in Miami’s 103–84 blowout win that sent the team to the NBA Finals. The win avenged the Heat’s defeat last year to the Celtics in the same round, and has Miami back in the Finals for the second time in four years.
Martin was outstanding all series long, making 60.2% of his field goal attempts and going 21-for-41 on three-pointers, averaging 19.3 points per game. He had just one 20-point playoff game in his career prior to this series, and topped that mark three times against the Celtics.
Given how most expected the Celtics to complete their comeback bid with a win on Monday, Martin’s performance—and the Heat’s dominance—got quite the response on social media. Check out the most notable reactions below.
— nba paint (@nba_paint) May 30, 2023
Boston becomes first city to lose a home Game 7 to an 8-seed in both hockey and basketball in the same season.
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) May 30, 2023
The Him Reaper. pic.twitter.com/eokgvfMTrT
— nba paint (@nba_paint) May 30, 2023
Tyler Herro giving his job to Caleb Martin pic.twitter.com/jTRZeDpLsR
— Tate Frazier (@tatefrazier) May 30, 2023
caleb martin not winning eastern conference finals MVP pic.twitter.com/hYVSQvUBrs
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) May 30, 2023
me telling people about caleb martin’s 2023 ECF run against the celtics in 20 years: pic.twitter.com/Y9MYFUuWS5
— alex (@steven_lebron) May 30, 2023
“We came from apartments to taking meetings with Remy Martin,
— The Pettiest Laker Fan 🤫 (@ThePettiestLA) May 30, 2023
In Miami heating up like I’m Caleb Martin” https://t.co/htrwoDdLKw
Caleb Martin tonight pic.twitter.com/4bfmyDQc6T
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 30, 2023
what’s crazy is i had no idea caleb martin is the no. 1 basketball player on the planet
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) May 30, 2023
caleb martin vs the celtics game 7 pic.twitter.com/fvIoc7V4v6
— vibey 🐙 (@vib9y) May 30, 2023