Two days after Bam Adibayo blamed himself for the loss of Game 5, he played the best game of his career and sent the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals. Adebayo scored 32 points with 14 points and five assists in an 11-for-15 shootout against the Boston Celtics on Sunday. Adebayo also took 10 wickets from the free throw line in a 125-113 victory.
The whole series has become a nightmare for Adebayo Boston, with his roles, his attacks from Dribble and his direction passing. The Celtics attempted three centers in Game 6, and when Miami took a four-and-a-half-minute lead with four minutes left, they decided to make their final push without anyone.
With about seven minutes left, Boston put Center Daniel Thesis in the game with a one-point lead. Immediately, Adebayo pulled Thesis out of the 3-point line and dropped a roaring, two-handed sting.
On the next Miami takeover, Adebayo re-entered and hit a mid-range jumper, in addition to a terrible one. On the next one, he attacked the basket, pulled a double-team and made an easy layout for Jimmy Butler with a left-handed rapper’s pass. Thesis later failed to defend Adebayo in the occupation.
Adebayo was unstoppable, but Heat outperformed the Celtics in a particularly balanced fashion. Butler had 22 points on 8-for-19 shooting with eight assistants. Rookie guard Tyler Harrow came off the bench to score 19 points, make seven assist dishes and perform several clutch plays. Another reserve, Andre Igudala, scored 15 points on 5 shots, including a four-three score.
Boston scored 26 points on 10-for-17 shots from Jillian Braun, and 24 points and 11 assists from Jason Tatum. The Celtics went from a 3-point range to a 2-for-14 in the fourth quarter, however, they were unable to maintain the rhythm they had played so hard against the Miami defense.
Game 1 is Wednesday in the finals.
