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If you’ve been watching the NBA playoffs (which have been a ton of fun), you might have noticed something – Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat have been on a ridiculous run and are now just two games away from going to the Finals.
The Heat stayed red-hot Thursday night when they came back from a 17-point deficit to beat the Boston Celtics and take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. They also apparently caused Marcus Smart and the Celtics to have a breakdown in the locker room after the game, which isn’t good for Boston but likely very good for Miami.
The Heat now have lost just one playoff game thus far in the bubble.
They entered as the No. 5 seed and swept the No. 4 Pacers with ease.
Then they needed just five games to send Giannis Antetokounmpo and the top-seeded Bucks home from the bubble.
Now they have a pair of comeback wins over the Celtics under their belts and have the look of a team that could quickly punch their ticket to the NBA Finals.
The Heat became the first fifth seed since 1999 to make the Eastern Conference Finals. Their 10-1 start matches the franchise’s start in the 2005 NBA playoffs, but that team lost to the Pistons in the conference finals.
Butler has been the leader of this team ever since he signed with Miami before the season. He had two huge defensive plays down the stretch that helped put Boston away and he continues to give the team the edge it needs to keep dominating in the playoffs.
Now all they need are two more wins against the Celtics and they’re back in the Finals for the first time since 2014 when they had guys by the names of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh on the team.
This Heat team may not have the star power of those Heat teams but man, right now they’re just as dominant.
Thursday’s biggest winner: Joe Buck.
The GOAT announcer was surprised during the Thursday Night Football broadcast when he learned he made the Pro Football Hall of Fame, just like his dad Jack Buck. What a cool moment this was for Joe.
Quick hits: Mickelson’s classic reaction to bad shot… Zach Johnson’s outrageous putt… Josh Donaldson’s awesome ejection… And more.
– Phil Mickelson had a very honest reaction to one of the bad shots he hit during the first round of the U.S. Open on Thursday.
– You need to see the outrageous putt that Zach Johnson sunk at Winged Foot.
– Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson hit a home run Thursday against the White Sox and then got ejected after he crossed home plate.
– Charles Curtis and Steven Ruiz have their NFL Week 2 picks against the spread.
– Bill Belichick paid a touching tribute to his late mother during press conference.
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