Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) and forward Grant Williams (12). Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Moment Celtics realize game-winning shot counted vs. Heat

By Jeff Smith | Last updated 5/28/23

Game 6 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals will go down as one of the wildest finishes in recent memory. While the Miami Heat were pushing for a fourth-quarter comeback to avoid allowing the Boston Celtics to even up the series and set up a Game 7 in Boston, it appeared they had nearly done just that until fans were treated to an instant classic.

Jimmy Butler knocked down three free throws with three seconds remaining to give the Heat a 103-102 lead. With time expiring, Marcus Smart heaved up a contested 3-pointer which missed, but Derrick White flew in out of nowhere and tipped home the miss, narrowly beating the buzzer in the process.

The incredible finish wasn't immediately ruled a basket though, and another camera angle of White and a few Celtics teammates immediately after created a must-see moment, as NBC Sports Boston showed.

the moment the Celtics realized it's not over yet#BleedGreen #BeattheHeat #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/GbJiUuq0oE
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 28, 2023

Robert Williams was right there on White after the finish, which White was convinced he tipped home prior to the clock hitting zero. After the Celtics guard and other teammates watched and waited for a short period, you can see their reactions, as well as hear the crowd go nearly silent following the basket being called as good on the floor.

Arguably one of the most daunting tasks in sports is for a team to dig their way out of a 3-0 hole in a best-of-seven series. To date, there has not been a single NBA team that has successfully managed to do it. There have been four NHL teams to do so, along with one MLB team. Interestingly, the Boston Red Sox are the lone MLB team to do it, with one of the most memorable comebacks ever during the 2004 ALCS against the rival New York Yankees.

The Celtics etching their name in history as the first NBA team to complete a 3-0 deficit comeback would be quite a storyline, and based on the major momentum swing during this series, they're in a great position to get the job done. Boston opened Game 7 as an eight-point favorite on Caesars Sportsbook, a number that obviously points to an uphill battle to end their own three-game skid now for Miami.

Following the last three games, it's hard to pick against the Celtics. The way Game 6 ended in such dramatic fashion with the Heat just seconds away from heading to the NBA Finals, and now having to head back to Boston only adds to how tough it'll be for Miami to pull off a shocker in Game 7.

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