Editor’s note; This story was published Monday morning, before Martin scored 26 points to help the Heat defeat the Celtics in Game 7 to advance to the NBA Finals.
In the 2022 version of the Game 7 between the Heat and Celtics, Caleb Martin didn’t play a single second. Due to a combination of injury and inexperience, Martin could only watch as Jimmy Butler’s potential go-ahead three bounced off the rim late in the fourth quarter. In total, Martin averaged only 15.5 minutes per night in his six appearances during last year’s conference finals, many of which came in a Game 5 blowout.
In Monday’s Game 7, one year to the day of the previous one, Martin will not only be a starter for the Heat, he is essential to Miami’s chances of advancing to the NBA Finals for the second time in four years.
