The NBA’s Eastern Conference battle comes down to one last game. After the Miami Heat took a 3–0 lead against the Boston Celtics, they gave up the next three, forcing a seventh game. That will take place tonight, with Boston looking at the possibility of making NBA history.

Every Last Drop

In the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, one team has reached a new low by losing 0-3 in a best-of-seven series, marking the 151st time this has happened in league history. Despite four instances of teams pushing the series to seven games, no team has managed to win after facing such a deficit.

Prior to the Celtics, the Portland Trail Blazers accomplished this feat against the Dallas Mavericks during the 2003 Western Conference First Round. However, the Celtics have the distinction of being the first team in Game 7 to accomplish this. In contrast, the Heat aim to be the second-eighth seed to advance to the NBA Finals after the New York Knicks in 1999.

For the second year in a row, the Celtics and Heat are scheduled to meet in a crucial Game 7. Interestingly, this game will take place on May 29 once again, a date that had never before witnessed a Game 7 at this stage of the tournament until last year.

This highly anticipated matchup marks the opening meeting of Game 7 between two teams in a successive conference final series, a feat accomplished only by the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers in the early ’80s. In addition, the game marks the first time the teams will face each other in a Game 7 for consecutive games in the semifinal context, similar to the ’94-’95 season matchup between the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference.

Throughout the 1994 and 1995 seasons, the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks participated in grueling competition for seven games during the Eastern Finals and Conference Semifinals. Fast forward to the 2023 playoffs. Driven by unwavering determination, the Celtics emerged victorious in five highly intense and competitive playoff games.

Celtics Can Set New Records

The Celtics can match the NBA record for most wins against elimination in a series with a win in Game 7. The 1994 Nuggets and 2020 Nuggets have accomplished this feat with six wins.

The Celtics have recorded a 75% winning rate with a current record of 27-9 after completing seven games. Their excellent performance has been evident in their home matches, where they have secured 22 wins and suffered only five defeats. On the other hand, in away games, they have managed to get five wins and incurred four defeats.

Notably, the Celtics will soon compete in their 37th Game 7 playoff game, setting a new record for the NBA. After their next game on Monday, Boston will be confirmed to have completed 25% of the total number of games played in the league so far, with 37 games out of 148.

Miami has won six of its 11 games this postseason, giving them a winning percentage of .545. When playing at home, the team has been quite successful, winning six of their nine contests. However, in away matches, they have yet to secure a win, losing their two away games.

Sports bettors don’t know what to make of this series – it’s been all over the place. With everything on the line, the Celtics have a real shot at making NBA history tonight.