Miami Heat Knock Knicks Out of Playoffs in Six Games, Advance to East Finals

• The Miami Heat beat the New York Knicks in Game 6 to seal their second straight Eastern Conference finals spot
• The Heat became just the second No. 8 seed to make the conference finals since the Knicks in 1999
• Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo combined for 47 points as they won 96-92 to win the series 4-2

The Miami Heat are in the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight season after beating the New York Knicks 96-92 in Game 6.

They became just the second No. 8 seed to advance to the conference finals after ht Knicks in the 1998/99 season.

Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo combined for 47 points to cap off a phenomenal series.

Butler, who is having an incredible postseason, finished with 24 points and helped seal the game away with two free throws with 14.4 seconds remaining, per Miami Herald. Adebayo had 23 points and nine rebounds.

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The three-time NBA champions survived another outstanding performance from Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who scored 41 points.

The Heat will face either the Philadelphia 76ers or the Boston Celtics in the conference finals. The two teams play in Game 7 on Sunday.

Reactions from Heat vs. Knicks

Butler, who averaged 35.5 points in the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks, averaged only 24.5 points in the last four games against the Knicks. He said they edging closer to achieving their goal.

"We're one step closer to our goal," Butler said. "We already knew what we were capable of from the jump, I'm talking about the beginning of the season. We got eight more to get. I always say we're always going to be in this thing together. So proud of all of my guys for playing as hard as we did today and like I said, we got eight more," via ESPN.

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The Heat almost never made the playoffs. They finished 7th in the regular season but lost their first play-in game to the Atlanta Hawks, but they beat the Chicago Bulls to claim the 8th seed. Erik Spoelstra's side went on to stun the Bucks in the first round.

"I remember just walking away from that meeting and telling my staff with the look in their eyes and everything about that meeting, we got a chance," Spoelstra said. "I know a lot that I don't know, but I know when a team wants to keep a season going. And they wanted to keep the season going."

Butler: "Playoff Jimmy" not a thing

Sports Brief earlier reported on Butler saying the 'Playoff Jimmy' nickname is not a thing after they beat the Bucks in Game 4 in Round 1.

Butler scored 56 points in the clash to help his team narrowly win 119-114 and take a 3-1 series lead.

"It's not a thing. It's not. I just be hooping."