BOSTON — The Miami Heat might have to clear some room in Championship Alley.
That’s the name for the path from their home court to the locker room that is filled with wall-sized memories of greatness from Miami’s past. Gary Payton‘s jumper that started their 2006 Finals comeback. Blood dripping down Udonis Haslem‘s face in the fourth quarter of a vital playoff game. LeBron James‘ icy stare in the iconic first quarter of his 45-point masterpiece to win Game 6 in Boston in 2012. And many more.
Heat president Pat Riley occasionally takes guests down the long walk, stopping in front of the huge images above the deep red carpet to tell the backstories.
Maybe the photo from Friday night that makes it onto the wall next is of Jimmy Butler rising in front of the Boston Celtics‘ bench playing his 46th minute of an elimination Game 6 that was instantly etched in the history books. Marcus Smart, the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year, and Derrick White, the would-be hero of a comeback, watched as Butler soared into the air. Everyone in TD Garden stood, eyes on Butler.
Two days earlier, he couldn’t jump anywhere near as high. Four days earlier, forget about it. But on this night his ailing right knee, which had started to improve the past two days after aggressive treatment and as much rest as possible, allowed it. Butler made the crushing 20-foot jumper with 43 seconds left, sealing the Heat’s 111-103 win to force a Game 7 Sunday (8:30 p.m. on ESPN).
“I don’t pay too much attention to the crowd. I want to win,” Butler said. “I want to play basketball the right way. I’ll do whatever my team, teammates need me to do.”
After aggravating his knee in Game 3 of this series — he has been battling an IT band issue throughout the playoffs — Butler was a shell of himself. He played when maybe he shouldn’t have, and it showed immediately. His burst and lift were nearly non-existent. By the middle of Game 5, the Celtics’ defense openly admitted…
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