The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics are the first NBA teams to play in a Game 7 in consecutive years since 1994-95. It is also the sixth time in league history. In the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, Boston defeated the Heat 100-96 in Game 7 to advance to its 22nd NBA Finals.

The Celtics are the fourth team in NBA history to force a Game 7 after trailing a series 3-0. NBA teams are 0-149 when trailing 3-0 in seven-game series. The 2003 Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, 1994 Denver Nuggets in the second round, and 1951 New York Knicks in the NBA Finals fell short. All three teams lost Game 7 away.

Per multiple NBA betting sites, the Nuggets are the odds-on favorite to win the championship. Check out which sportsbooks are now showing the Heat with third-shortest odds.

The Heat and Celtics will face off in a Game 7 for the 2nd straight year.

This is the first time opposing teams will play in a Game 7 in consecutive years since 1994-95. It is the 6th time overall. pic.twitter.com/mRz9GnHF7h

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 28, 2023

In Boston’s 104-103 win over the Heat in Game 6 this past Saturday, Derrick White became just the second player in NBA history to make a game-winning buzzer-beater when facing elimination while trailing prior to the shot. Michael Jordan was the only other player to accomplish this feat against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1989.

This was the sixth game-winning buzzer-beater when facing elimination in NBA history and the first since Kawhi Leonard in 2019 against the 76ers. “Ball came to me,” White said. “I made the shot. … I was just happy. Season was on the line. We don’t want to go home.”

Additionally, Jayson Tatum recorded his seventh playoff game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, tying LeBron James in 2018 for most in a single postseason in NBA history. The four-time All-Star has scored over 500 points this postseason as well.

Boston Celtics are the fourth team in NBA history to force a Game 7 after trailing a series 3-0, joining the 2003 Portland Trail Blazers (first round), 1994 Denver Nuggets (second round), and 1951 New York Knicks (NBA Finals)

Tatum, 25, is the youngest player to score 500 points in back-to-back postseasons. The three-time All-NBA member also became the second Celtics player with 500 or more points in multiple postseasons, joining Larry Bird.

If the Heat win Game 7 on Monday night, the 2023 NBA Playoffs would have the most lower-seeded teams winning a series since the current playoff format began in 1983-84. Entering Game 7, a total of six lower-seeded teams have won a series this postseason, matching 1995 and 2007.

Jimmy Butler scored 24 points and Caleb Martin added 21 for the Heat. Although the Heat outscored the Celtics 31-25 in the fourth quarter, Miami allowed 42 points in the paint.

The Celtics are the fourth team to force a Game 7 after trailing a playoff series 3-0. Other instances:

-1951 NBA Finals: Knicks forced Game 7 vs. Rochester Royals

-1994 West Semifinals: Nuggets forced Game 7 vs. Jazz

-2003 West First Round: Blazers forced Game 7 vs. Mavericks

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 28, 2023

Furthermore, the Heat are 6-5 all time in Game 7s and are 0-2 away in previous winner-take-all affairs. They lost Game 7 at Atlanta in 2009. Plus, Boston is 5-0 this postseason in elimination games.

“It’s a seven-game series,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “There’s nothing better than Game 7s. … I don’t know how we’re going to get this done, but we’re going to go out there and get it done.

“And that’s what the next 48 hours is about. There’s been nothing easy about this season for our group, and so we just have to do it the hard way.”

Meanwhile, the Celtics are 27-9 in Game 7s. Boston has won its last four Game 7 matchups, including one in Miami last season and one against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The C’s are 1-1 against the Heat in Game 7s.

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The Dallas Mavericks are at a crossroads. After one of the most disappointing collapses in NBA history, the team failed to even make the play-in tournament this year. Even with trading for Kyrie Irving to pair up with Luka Doncic mid-season, Dallas is in massive need of reinforcements for Doncic, especially if they want him to remain with the team long-term. One name that has been floated around is D’Angelo Russell. Russell has been a hot topic around Lakers nation on whether or not he will re-sign with the team. Despite some suggesting the Mavericks should cut ties with Kyrie and do a sign-and-trade for D’Angelo Russell, the organization has no interest in the one-time All-Star.

Dallas Mavericks Not Interested in Sign and Trade for D’Angelo Russell 

D’Angelo Russell’s Tumultuous Season 

D’Angelo Russell has not been able to replicate his lone All-Star campaign for awhile now. However, he still shows spurts here and there and can be effective in the right environment. He started this season on the Minnesota Timberwolves before being acquired by the Lakers at the trade deadline. This, of course, was his second stint with Los Angeles. With the Timberwolves, he tallied 17.9 points per game, 6.2 assists, and an effective field goal percentage of 56.7 percent.

When he got traded, his numbers remained comparable, but it was the postseason which showcased his shortcomings. During the playoffs, Russell failed to be a reliable third option for LeBron James and company as he only averaged 13.3 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.9 total rebounds per game in 16 playoff games. Russell certainly looks as if he is still searching for a true home, so even if the Mavericks don’t pull the trigger on a trade, expect D’Angelo Russell in a different jersey next season.

Dallas Wants to Retain Kyrie Irving 

Despite multiple reports suggesting Kyrie Irving will be headed to Los Angeles, the Mavericks are still willing to give the Kyrie-Luka experiment another chance. Due to cap limitations, the Lakers would have to propose a sign-and-trade with Dallas to make Kyrie to Los Angeles a reality.

This would mean D’Angelo Russell would be the main player coming to Dallas. As alluded to already though, the Mavericks are not interested in this deal. Despite the disappointing end to the season, Irving and Doncic still had solid moments together. If Dallas can retain Kyrie while adding some depth in free agency, especially in the frontcourt, the Mavericks will be one of the most interesting teams coming into next season.

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In a recent podcast with Stacey King, Scottie Pippen released a jaw dropping take on the NBA’s GOAT debat between Michael Jordan vs LeBron James. As Jordan’s former teammate, Pippen was often over-shadowed playing alongside arguably the greatest player of all-time.

However, in a video recently released on Twitter, Pippen claims that James will be the greatest statistical player to ever play basketball. He goes on to add that there won’t be a comparison to James. Despite making these bold claims, Pippen opted out of calling James the “greatest player” ever.

Along with his takes, Pippen took a shot at Michael Jordan early in his career. He went on to call Jordan a “horrible player” before his arrival in Chicago.

Check out the video below for Scottie Pipen’s take on James vs Jordan.

“LeBron James will be the greatest statistical [player] to ever play the game of basketball. [Michael Jordan] was a horrible player.”

– Scottie Pippen

(h/t @DieHardCBfans )

pic.twitter.com/8EN5xOpJOG

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) May 26, 2023

Scottie Pippen Call Michael Jordan Horrible Player

While Pippen technically refrained from naming James the greatest player ever, he did take some shots at MJ during the video. According to Pippen, there is no such thing as the greatest player ever since basketball is a team game and one player isn’t able to do it all.

Shortly after, Pippen called Jordan “a horrible basketball player”, citing Jordan’s penchant for one-on-one play and claiming that the Bulls’ star frequently took “bad shots”.

Check out what Pippen had to say below:

“I seen Michael Jordan play before I came to play with the Bulls,” Pippen said. “You guys seen him play, he was a horrible player. He was horrible to play with, he was all one-on-one, he’s shooting bad shots. All of a sudden, we became a team and we started winning, everybody forgot who he was.”

Pippen’s History with Jordan

Together Pippen and Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. Pippen and Jordan were considered one of the most dominant duos in NBA history. Despite having a very successful career together, the two have grown distant since Jordan’s retirement.

While Twitter went into a frenzy with Pippen’s take, many believe that Pippen is simply upset that Jordan’s son is dating his ex-wife.

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