Celtics vs. Heat score, results: Jimmy Butler turns in masterful 47-point performance as Miami forces Game 7

Gilbert McGregor

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Celtics vs. Heat score, results: Jimmy Butler turns in masterful 47-point performance as Miami forces Game 7 image

There will be a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

With their backs against the wall, the Heat dug deep to earn a 111-103 win over the Celtics behind a spectacular performance from Jimmy Butler. Butler, who struggled in Games 4 and 5, set a new playoff career-high with 47 points (on 16-of-29 shooting) to go along with nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals.

For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum led the way with 30 points (on 9-of-12 shooting) while Derrick White scored 22 points off the bench and Jaylen Brown finished with 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals.

The two teams will meet in Game 7 on Sunday, May 29 in Miami.

The Sporting News tracked updates throughout Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Celtics vs. Heat score

Game 6 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Celtics 22 24 34 29 111
Heat 29 19 29 28 103

Celtics vs. Heat score, results

(All times Eastern)

Final: Heat 111, Celtics 103

11:24 p.m. — Two free throws from Butler will put this away.

Butler has a playoff career-high 47 points and the Heat look like they'll be forcing a Game 7.

11:21 p.m. — Jimmy Butler misses a jumper to ice things but Jaylen Brown is called for an offensive foul in transition.

Brown has fouled out and Miami leads 107-103 with 12.1 seconds remaining.

11:17 p.m. — Jimmy Butler.

Butler is up to 45 points in the game with a ridiculous turnaround jumper in the corner.

Miami leads 107-101 with 39 seconds remaining.

Timeout on the floor as a foul is under review.

11:11 p.m. — The game didn't stay tied for long.

Jimmy Butler converts an and-one to bring his total to 43 points on the night.

Miami leads 102-99 with 2:06 remaining in the fourth.

11:09 p.m. — A series of tough blows for the Heat.

Jimmy Butler comes up hobbled after rolling his ankle and Kyle Lowry fouls out with 18 points and 10 assists on the night.

The game is tied at 99 with 2:10 left.

11:06 p.m. — Miami is not fazed.

Kyle Lowry sticks a tough 3-pointer to tie things up and after a Heat stop, Lowry sinks two free throws.

The Heat lead 99-97 with 3:27 left in regulation.

11:02 p.m. — The roof is close to coming off at TD Garden.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Al Horford and Derrick White give the Celtics a 97-94 lead.

Timeout Miami with 4:42 remaining in regulation.

11 p.m. — Under six minutes remain and the Heat lead 94-91.

Jimmy Butler's up to 40 points.

Buckle up for a wild finish.

10:48 p.m. — And like that, the Celtics respond again.

Derrick White finishes through contact but can't get the free throw to go. 

The Heat lead 89-85 with 9:36 remaining in regulation.

Could this be a close game in the 2022 conference finals?

10:46 p.m. — Jimmy Butler converts an and-one, Boston's challenge is unsuccessful, Butler sinks the free throw.

Butler is up to 33 points on the night and is a perfect 8 of 8 from the free throw line.

After two more possessions, the Heat lead 87-80 with a little under 11 minutes to go.

End of Third Quarter: Heat 82, Celtics 75

10:37 p.m. — Again, the Heat respond.

At the end of three, Miami holds on to a seven-point lead after a 34-point third quarter. In addition to Jimmy Butler, who's up to 30 points, the Heat enjoyed the play of Kyle Lowry and Max Strus, both of whom made big shots in the quarter.

Jayson Tatum has a team-high 24 points for the Celtics and Jaylen Brown has 18 points, but it was the energy of Robert Williams III breathed life into the team in the third.

Derrick White has emerged as a major contributor with 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting off the bench.

10:27 p.m. — Boston responds with a 6-0 run of its own to cut the deficit to six.

The Heat lead 70-64 after an alley-oop finish from Robert Williams III.

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra signals for time as the TD Garden crowd is re-energized by the Celtics' latest spurt.

10:21 p.m. — Miami is on the run.

The Heat have outscored the Celtics 13-2 in under two minutes.

Miami leads 70-58 with 5:30 remaining in the third.

After missing 14 consecutive 3s, Max Strus has hit two 3s in the third quarter, bringing his total to 10 points in the game.

10:13 p.m. — These teams continue to go back and forth.

After the Celtics briefly took the lead, the Heat respond and lead 61-56 with 7:07 remaining in the third.

Timeout on the floor.

Jimmy Butler, who will step to the line to look to complete an and-one after the break, is up to 25 points to go along with nine assists, six assists and three steals.

Halftime: Heat 48, Celtics 46

9:50 p.m. — The stars are shining bright at TD Garden.

The Heat take a two-point lead thanks in large part to Jimmy Butler, who has 21 points (on 7-of-15 shooting), nine rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Jaylen Brown (18 points) and Jayson Tatum (18 points) have combined to score 36 points on 12-of-18 shooting. Outside of that duo? Boston is shooting just 3 of 18 from the field.

Despite committing 12 turnovers, the Heat are shooting 8 of 16 (50.0 percent) from 3-point range while the Celtics are shooting 3 of 13 (23.1 percent).

9:40 p.m. — Boston's got its first lead of the night.

Two free throws from Jaylen Brown give the Celtics a 41-40 lead. Under three minutes remain in the first half.

Brown is up to 13 points on the night while Jayson Tatum has 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 shooting from deep.

The Heat have committed 12 turnovers, which have been their downfall in this one.

9:34 p.m. — P.J. Tucker finds himself in foul trouble as well.

An errant arm swing that made contact with the face of Jaylen Brown has resulted in Tucker being whistled for an offensive foul, his third of the night.

9:30 p.m. — Al Horford is whistled for his third foul with over seven minutes remaining in the first half.

On the ensuing possession, Grant Williams picks up his third foul.

While the Heat are making their first trip to the line in the game, Boston's foul trouble could be an issue.

9:24 p.m. — The Celtics have responded.

A 7-0 Boston run has cut the deficit to one point and the Heat lead 32-31.

Timeout on the floor.

Jayson Tatum is coming alive and is up to 16 points in the game, outscoring the Heat 9-3 himself in the quarter.

9:22 p.m. — One stat to keep an eye on: free throws.

Boston is 10 of 10 from the charity stripe early on. Miami has yet to get to the line.

End of First Quarter: Heat 29, Celtics 22

9:14 p.m. — Miami takes a seven-point lead into the second quarter.

Jimmy Butler has done a bit of everything early on, leading the way with 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

As a team, the Heat are shooting 5 of 8 from 3-point range.

The Celtics, who are shooting 6 of 17 from the field, are led by seven points from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

9:04 p.m. — It's been a battle early on.

The Heat lead 19-14 with 3:19 remaining in the opening frame.

Jimmy Butler's seven points (on 3-of-5 shooting), three rebounds, three assists and two steals lead the way for Miami, while both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have each scored five points for Boston.

Turnovers have been a big story — the Celtics have committed five early on.

8:55 p.m. — Early foul trouble for the Celtics as Al Horford picks up his second foul less than five minutes into the game.

Horford's situation is one to keep an eye on.

8:50 p.m. — The Heat have come to play.

Miami leads 12-5 early on behind five quick points from Kyle Lowry.

Timeout Celtics.

Pregame

8 p.m. — No changes in the starting lineup for the Heat, who will roll with Kyle Lowry, Max Strus, Jimmy Butler, P.J. Tucker and Bam Adebayo.

7:45 p.m. — The injury report is looking much more favorable for the Celtics, who will have both Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III available.

7:05 p.m. — It's official: Tyler Herro has been ruled out for Game 6.

7 p.m. — According to Yahoo's Chris Haynes, Tyler Herro is expected to miss Game 6 with his groin injury.

12 p.m. — Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro is listed as questionable ahead of Game 6. Head coach Erik Spoelstra says the team is working through the issue, meaning Herro is likely a true game-time decision.

Celtics vs. Heat schedule, TV channels

Here is the full schedule for the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals.

Date Game Time (ET) / Result TV channel
May 17 Game 1 Heat 118, Celtics 107 ESPN
May 19 Game 2 Celtics 127, Heat 102 ESPN
May 21 Game 3 Heat 109, Celtics 103 ABC
May 23 Game 4 Celtics 102, Heat 82 ABC
May 25 Game 5 Celtics 93, Heat 80 ESPN
May 27 Game 6 Heat 111, Celtics 103 ESPN
May 29 Game 7 8:30 p.m. ESPN

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.