Miami Heat find motivation from Dwayne Wade, Draymond Green in forcing Game 7 behind Jimmy Butler's 47-point masterpiece

BOSTON — Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat knew that most of the basketball world had already counted them out long before Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics even began on Friday night.

The Heat were mentally drained after a long, hard-fought series — and dealing with a slew of different injuries. Tyler Herro was out with a groin strain, Kyle Lowry, P.J. Tucker and Max Strus were just a handful of Heat players dealing with nagging injuries, and then there was Butler — who has been dealing with right knee soreness off and on throughout the playoffs, but has been noticeably hampered since re-injuring the knee in Game 3.

Butler understood all the obstacles. He heard the doubts, and he still didn't care. He delivered one of the best performances of his career with 47 points as he willed his team to an impressive 111-103 victory that forced a Game 7 on Sunday night.

«Jimmy just brought his competitive will tonight,» Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. «It was a will that would not let us lose.»

In a career that has been defined by hard work and determination, Butler delivered another masterpiece when his team needed it the most. Aside from the 47 points, Butler also added nine rebounds, eight assists, four steals and a block in 46 minutes. He went 16-for-29 from the field, 11-for-11 from the free throw line and 4-for-8 from beyond the arc.

«It's f---ing incredible,» said Lowry.

For his part, Butler took all the accolades in stride, just like he calmly delivered big play after big play every time it appeared the Celtics were ready to take control of the game. This is the type of performance he has come to expect from himself in the biggest moments — and it looked very similar to the games he put up in