Never Say Die Celtics Remain Unbeaten in Elimination Games in 2023 NBA Playoffs

• The Boston Celtics have already played five elimination games in the 2023 NBA Playoffs
• The Celtics won two elimination games against the Sixers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
• The Celtics won three elimination games against the Heat after falling behind 0-3 in their series

The Boston Celtics have faced elimination five times in this year’s playoffs.

They managed to survive in each one of those games, beating the Philadelphia 76ers twice and the Miami Heat thrice.

Sports Brief looks at the five elimination games the Celtics have won ahead of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Celtics vs. Sixers (Game 6)

The Celtics faced elimination in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals after losing to the Sixers in Game 5 at home by 12 points.

Many expected the Sixers to finish the series as Game 6 was set to be played at Philadelphia’s home stadium.

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It certainly looked that way as the 76ers grabbed an 83-81 lead with 5:25 left in the fourth quarter.

Jayson Tatum spoiled their party plans, however, scoring 12 of his 19 points in the Celtics’ game-ending 14-3 run that gave Boston a 95-86 victory.

Celtics vs. Sixers (Game 7)

Tatum starred in Boston’s Game 7 win over Philadelphia, scoring 51 points in the 112-88 victory, per NBC Sports.

He got off to a hot start, scoring 25 points in the first half.

Tatum continued his hot shooting in the third quarter, scoring 17 points during that period to help the Celtics pull away in the winner-take-all contest.

It was a historic performance by Tatum, who broke Stephen Curry’s Game 7 scoring record of 50 points.

Celtics vs. Heat (Game 4)

The Celtics didn’t carry the momentum of that win against the Sixers into the series against the Heat.

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They lost their first two games at home against Miami and then suffered an embarrassing 26-point loss to the Heat in Game 3 to fall into a 0-3 hole.

Things looked bleak for the Celtics, who trailed 61-52 in the third quarter of Game 4.

Just when it seemed Boston was going to get swept, Tatum and the rest of the Celtics turned their fortunes around.

They unleashed an 18-0 run in a three-minute span in the third quarter, turning a nine-point deficit into a 70-61 lead.

That run was part of a 48-22 blast by the Celtics, who recorded a 116-99 victory in Game 4.

Tatum led Boston in the win, scoring 33 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

Celtics vs. Heat (Game 5)

The Celtics dominated the Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, recording a 110-97 victory to avoid elimination for the fourth time in this year’s playoffs.

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Four Boston players scored at least 20 points as the Celtics cut the Heat’s series lead to 3-2.

Derrick White led all Celtics scorers with 24 points. Marcus Smart was unstoppable on both ends of the floor, recording 23 points and five steals.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum also contributed, each dropping 21 points.

The Celtics were red-hot from beyond the arc in this contest, knocking down 16 of their 39 3-point attempts in Game 5.

Celtics vs. Heat (Game 6)

Jimmy Butler guaranteed the Heat would take care of business at home and finish the series against the Celtics in Game 6.

He gave Miami a 103-102 lead with three seconds left in the game clock after knocking down three clutch free throws.

Unfortunately for Butler and the Heat, that was more than enough time for the Celtics to produce late heroics of their own.

Derrick White sank the biggest basket of his life, scoring a buzzer-beating putback layup to give Boston a dramatic 104-103 victory, per ESPN.

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White crashed the glass after Marcus Smart attempted a three and had the presence of mind to release the ball quickly following his offensive rebound.

White’s buzzer-beater helped the Celtics move within a win of the greatest comeback in NBA Playoffs history.

No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit in the postseason.

Green wants Boston to win

Sports Brief recently reported on Draymond Green rooting for Boston to make history against Miami.

He believes the Heat squandering a 3-0 Finals lead would finally take some attention off their 2016 Finals collapse.

The Warriors blew a 3-1 lead against the Cavaliers in that championship series.