History is still in play for the Celtics.
Boston led by 10 points with under four minutes to play in Game 6 against the Heat on Saturday night. It looked as if it was going cruise to victory to force a Game 7.
In the blink of an eye, Miami cut the deficit to a single possession, giving viewers flashbacks of Game 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals between the same two teams.
Marcus Smart stepped to the free throw line with 16.2 seconds to play and the Celtics leading by one. He made one of two, which left the door open for the Heat to tie or win the game.
That’s when the chaos commenced.
Celtics’ challenge leads to three free throws for Jimmy Butler
With the clock under 10 seconds, Butler had the ball at the top of the key with Al Horford on an island. Instead of attacking the basket to try to tie the game, he went for the kill shot to send Boston into the offseason.
Butler dribbled to the corner and attempted a step-back 3, but he was fouled by Horford. The referees originally ruled Butler was attempting a 2-pointer, but Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla challenged the foul call itself.
After review, not only was Horford still charged with a foul, but the referees ruled that Butler was behind the 3-point line when fouled and awarded the Heat star three free throws and a chance to win the game.
Celtics challenge this foul called on Al Horford #BOSvsMIA pic.twitter.com/ARrg6PdX2G
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) May 28, 2023
Butler coolly sank all three free throws, giving Miami a 103-102 lead.
One detail that seemed minor in the moment: There were 2.1 seconds on the game clock before Boston’s challenge. After the review, nine-tenths of a second was added back, giving the Celtics 3.0 seconds to try to steal the game back.
When Jimmy Butler was fouled on his 3-point attempt, there were 2.1 seconds remaining.
After review, the officials added 0.9 to the clock, and that ended up changing everything for the Heat and Celtics… pic.twitter.com/pnw39fVtjZ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 28, 2023
Derrick White’s buzzer-beater putback forces Game 7
The Celtics came out of a timeout with White inbounding the ball. Max Strus was face-guarding the play to try to muck things up, leaving White alone.
Boston attempted to run something for superstar forward Jayson Tatum, but Butler did a great job of denying him the ball. Their No. 2 option, Jaylen Brown, had trouble shaking free from Bam Adebayo, forcing White to inbound it to Smart.
Smart launched a 3-point try that spun around and out. White, who was unmarked as the inbounder, crashed the glass and miraculously got the putback to fall just before time expired.
DERRICK WHITE FOR THE WIN.
ALL ANGLES.#TissotBuzzerBeater to force Game 7! pic.twitter.com/HOKXLh3YoU— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2023
Turns out, the Celtics needed every one of those extra 0.9 seconds.
AS CLOSE AT IT GETS 🤯
DERRICK WHITE WINS GAME 6 AT THE BUZZER.#TissotBuzzerBeater pic.twitter.com/88gjVeUAEz
— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2023
Derrick White, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on the game-winning play
Brown credited White for saving Boston’s season, stating with a smile, “D-White, like a flash of lightning, just came out of nowhere and saved the day.”
White, on the other hand, is modestly trying to manage his moment of fame.
“It’s going to be a little crazy. My phone is already blowing up,” White said. “But I’ll get home tomorrow, play with (his son) Hendrix. I’m sure he won’t look at me any differently, so that’s cool.”
Tatum couldn’t even process what had just unfolded.
“I’m still, like, in disbelief. That s— was crazy. But I’m glad we’ve got another chance.”
The Celtics will live to fight another day, hosting the Heat for Game 7 on Monday with history on the line.