BOSTON -- The Miami Heat arrived in Boston on the brink of elimination. Now they are heading back home with the chance to advance from the Eastern Conference Finals in Game 7 against the Boston Celtics on their own turf Saturday night.
With a commanding 98-79 win on Thursday, the Heat have reclaimed momentum in the series behind a 45-point, 15-rebound performance by LeBron James. They were confident entering Game 6, and they are prepared for a battle in the deciding match up.
I will continue to be aggressive, said James. I will try to continue to play at a high level like I have done the whole postseason. If it results in these numbers or whatever the case may be, Im going to go out there and play my game and play as hard as I can. I dont really care what the stats say. I wont regret Game 7. Win, lose, or draw, Im going to go in with the mindset like Ive had this whole season and well see what happens.
The Heat won the first two games of the series at home, lost the next two in Boston, and were defeated in Game 5 in Miami. But after a Game 6 win at the TD Garden, both teams have won on the road and Saturdays match up will be a duel between protecting and stealing home court.
Game 7 is nothing promised to you, said Dwyane Wade. You have to go out and play the game, and you have it give it your all. This is going to be a knockout after knockout after knockout after knockout game. Hopefully we are standing at the end.