Jimmy Butler delivered on his promise as he led the Miami Heat past the Boston Celtics to book their place in the 2023 NBA Finals.
On Monday night, Butler scored 28 points while he added seven rebounds and six assists as his Heat defeated the Celtics 103-84 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. It means the Heat will face two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals as the Serbian and Butler compete for their first championship.
After the agonising final-second defeat in Game 6, Butler vowed to ensure the Heat would go into Boston and get the all-important win to avoid becoming the first team in NBA history to lose a playoff series when up 3-0. Following the last-gasp loss on Saturday, Butler said: “I’m not gon’ let anybody quit. I’m not gonna let our guys quit. I don’t give a damn what happens - we gon’ go in there [TD Garden], and we’re gonna win.”
After a dominant start to the series, Butler struggled in Game 6 as he shot just 5-for-21 but declared he would be back to his best ahead of Game 7, adding: “I told the guys in the locker room that if I play better, we’re not even in this position. And I will be better.”
Butler ultimately lived up to his words as he inspired the Heat to victory while he earned the Larry Bird Trophy as the Eastern Conference finals MVP in the process. With the series win, Miami have joined the 1999 New York Knicks as the second No. 8 seed to reach the NBA Finals in league history.
The Celtics initially started strong, feeding off the electric atmosphere at TD Garden but the Heat fought back to lead by 17 in the first half - and they never let Boston back into the game from then. Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum injured his left ankle early on and struggled with the injury throughout the contest, finishing with just 14 points while the Celtics shot a measly 9-for-42 from three as a unit.
Meanwhile, the Heat went 50% from deep to take Game 7 and return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2020. They did so without the injured Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo, who went down with hand and knee injuries earlier in the postseason, but the likes of Caleb Martin stepped up. Martin scored 26 points and added 10 rebounds in Game 7.
However, the night ultimately belonged to Butler, who personifies the grit and grind of this Miami Heat team like no one else. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra - who has made six NBA Finals appearances since 2011 - heaped praise on his star 33-year-old, saying: “There's no way to quantify the confidence that he can instil in everybody. And you know, Jimmy has never had to apologise. I don't want him to ever apologise for who he is and how he approaches competition.
“It's intense. It's not for everybody, and we're not for everybody. That's why we think it's like an incredible marriage. We never judge him on that. He doesn't judge us for how crazy we get. It's the same language. But the confidence level that he can create for everybody on the roster is incredible.
“He's gnarly, but he knows how to have a soft touch to give somebody some confidence at the right time. That's the special gift that he has.”
Butler’s special gift might truly be his ability to lead the Heat in the postseason - and the franchise will hope he has one more magical run up his sleeve as the team chases a first NBA championship since 2013. Miami face the Nuggets in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.
