BOSTON — Jimmy Butler went forehead-to-forehead with the Boston Celtics, and the Warmth are heading again to Miami with a chance to advance to the NBA Finals.
Butler scored 27 factors, hitting back-to-back buckets to tie the sport and provides Miami the lead, and the eighth-seeded Warmth left Boston with a 111-105 victory Friday night time and a 2-0 lead within the Jap Convention finals.
Butler additionally offered eight rebounds, six assists and an emotional spark after Boston’s Grant Williams began jawing with him: Butler stared down Williams, with each gamers drawing technical fouls for the double head-butt.
Then “Jimmy Buckets” scored and scored some extra — 9 factors in all throughout a 23-9 run that turned a nine-point deficit right into a 105-100 lead.
“I knew that was going to be good for us,” mentioned Caleb Martin, who got here off the bench to attain 25 factors. “We’ll take mad Jimmy at any time. You may form of see it in his eyes he was able to go after that.”
Bam Adebayo had 22 factors, 17 rebounds and 9 assists for Miami, which returns residence with an opportunity to comb and develop into simply the second No. 8 seed to achieve the NBA Finals.
Recreation 3 is Sunday night time.
“He’s going to must make each single robust shot the remainder of the collection,” Williams mentioned. “And I’m not going to show and look in any other case as a result of I respect him as an (expletive) participant.”
Jayson Tatum had 34 factors, 13 rebounds and eight assists for Boston. However the Celtics star went 0 for 3 with two turnovers within the fourth quarter, when Boston blew an 89-77 lead en path to a second residence loss in three nights.
After ending 13 video games forward of the Warmth within the regular-season — after which watching top-seeded Milwaukee fall to Miami within the first spherical — the Celtics have discovered what seemed to be a transparent path to their second straight NBA Finals.
“It’s robust. It’s a problem. However there’s no level being up right here unhappy and (stuff),” Tatum mentioned. “They got here in and received two video games. They performed nicely; you give them credit score. However we’re not lifeless or something. We’ve received a fantastic alternative. I nonetheless have the utmost confidence. All people has the utmost confidence. We’ve simply received to prepare for Recreation 3.”
Jaylen Brown scored 16 factors on 7-for-23 capturing; he went 1 for five with a turnover within the remaining quarter, when Miami outscored Boston 36-22.
“We’ve received some canine, and I adore it. I like each little bit of it,” Butler mentioned on the postgame TV broadcast. “Guys by no means stop. We by no means quit. We love enjoying with each other. We’ve received a lot religion and belief in each other.”
The Celtics led by 11 within the third quarter and made it a dozen early within the fourth. Williams made a 3-pointer to make it 96-87 and was speaking to Butler on the best way again down the court docket. Butler scored on the different finish and was fouled by Williams; the 2 gamers leaned into one another — drawing double technicals — earlier than Butler hit the following free throw.
“Some wholesome competitors. I ain’t going to misinform you. Wholesome competitors. And I adore it. I’m at all times right here to compete. I like to speak, at instances,” Butler mentioned. “So long as we get the win, I’m good with it.”
Requested if Boston “poked the bear” by getting Butler offended, Brown mentioned, “Subsequent query.” However Butler mentioned there was little doubt that the try and get him off his sport truly fired him up.
“Sure it did,” Butler mentioned. “However that’s simply competitors at its most interesting. He hit an enormous shot and began speaking to me. However I like that. It’s simply competitors. It pushes that may to win. It makes me smile. … I simply don’t know if I used to be one of the best particular person to speak to.”
After Tatum missed from lengthy distance — certainly one of three missed 3s within the fourth quarter — Butler drove to the basket to make it a four-point Boston lead. Miami trailed 98-96 when Butler was referred to as for an offensive foul, kicking Marcus Sensible after touchdown on a missed 3-pointer.
Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra challenged, however misplaced.
Butler responded.
He made a 17-footer to tie it 100-all, after which a brief fadeaway to present Miami the lead. After Max Strus made certainly one of two free throws, Adebayo scored on a putback dunk to make it 105-100 with lower than a minute to play.
“I like that gnarly model of Jimmy,” Spoelstra mentioned. “However you get that regardless. I feel now persons are simply paying extra consideration. … Jimmy is only a actual competitor.”
Boston used a 21-2 run to show an eight-point, first-quarter deficit into an 11-point lead.
