Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat lost Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics at home, so the series will head back to Beantown for Game 5 with an NBA Finals appearance on the line.
After Game 4 ended, Butler told reporters that the Heat have “got to play like our backs are against the wall” in Game 5.
“If anything, it will build momentum for us knowing that we have to play with a lot more energy,” Butler said. “We’ve got to play like our backs are against the wall. But I think all year long, we’ve been better when we’ve had to do things the hard way.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat & Boston Celtics Updates
The Heat haven’t lost two games in a row in the playoffs yet. They won Games 1 and 2 in Boston to take a 2-0 series lead, so Butler knows he and his teammates can get the job done in Game 5.
“The only thing I’m going to say is we’ll be OK,” Butler said. “Let’s get back to doing what we’ve always done to get us to this point: Continually have belief in one another, knowing that we are going to win, and we will. We’ve just got to play harder. There’s not too much to say with this group because we already know. So we’ve just got to go out there and execute.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat & Boston Celtics Updates
No team in NBA history has lost a postseason series after taking a 3-0 lead. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra doesn’t think his guys will be complacent moving forward since Miami has a lot of respect for Boston.
“But we have great respect for Boston,” Spoelstra said. “What they are capable of. They are a dynamic offensive team that takes extraordinary efforts and commitment to get the job done. Our guys really want this.”
The Heat are looking to get back to the Finals in the Butler era. Miami reached the 2020 Finals, where the Los Angeles Lakers beat Butler and Co. in six games.
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