Oh, You Thought the Miami Heat Were Done? Jimmy Butler Said No.

BOSTON — In a playoff collection that had way back misplaced any semblance of order or predictability, Jimmy Butler of the Miami Warmth on Friday evening emerged as a uncommon supply of stability, and maybe the one one.

He rose over flat-footed defenders for 3-pointers. He negotiated rush-hour site visitors for layups. He drew fouls and whipped passes to teammates and left the Celtics and their followers in a state of despondence.

When a lot else felt unsure, Butler was a certain factor. It was the shared feeling amongst everybody within the constructing, for higher or worse. By the point he cradled the basketball outdoors the 3-point line late within the fourth quarter, taking a half-beat to survey the panorama earlier than him, he carried himself with a sure air of inevitability: Was there any doubt what would occur subsequent?

The Celtics, so celebrated for his or her protection, made it straightforward for him. They mishandled the project, leaving Butler with a clear path to the hoop, and he pounced, driving for a layup and absorbing contact for good measure. It was a successful play that broke a tie recreation, together with the Celtics’ resolve.

“His aggressive will is as excessive as anyone that has performed this recreation,” Warmth Coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned.

In steering the Warmth to a 111-103 victory over the Celtics in Sport 6 of the Jap Convention finals, Butler ensured that the collection can be pushed to its absolute restrict: Sport 7 is Sunday evening in Miami.

Butler collected 47 factors, 9 rebounds and eight assists whereas taking pictures 16 of 29 from the sector and 4 of 8 from 3-point vary. He did so on an ailing proper knee after two of the roughest video games of his profession. He mentioned he had been uplifted by a pregame telephone name from Dwyane Wade, the previous Warmth guard.

“D-Wade by no means hits me till his voice is basically, actually wanted,” Butler mentioned. “And it was.”

Butler additionally had a one-sided dialog earlier than the sport with P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris, two of his teammates. Tucker and Morris had a request for Butler: “Yo, we’d like 50.”

“He checked out us, didn’t say a phrase,” Tucker recalled. “He simply nodded his head, saved going. I used to be like, oh, yeah, he’s about to play. He’s locked in.”

Spoelstra described “Sport 7” as the 2 finest phrases in skilled sports activities, and he wouldn’t get an argument from the Golden State Warriors, who’re awaiting the winner within the N.B.A. finals, beginning Thursday in San Francisco. Whereas Boston and Miami proceed to bludgeon one another, Golden State wanted simply 5 video games to eradicate the Dallas Mavericks within the Western Convention finals.

“Relaxation, ice, therapeutic massage — all of that great things,” Butler mentioned when he was requested how he would are likely to his knee forward of Sport 7. “The identical factor each single day.”

The Warmth had been coming off two straight disheartening performances. They’d misplaced Sport 4 by 20 whereas taking pictures 33.3 p.c from the sector. They’d misplaced Sport 5 by 13 factors whereas taking pictures 31.9 p.c — at house, no much less, the place their followers shuffled out of the world questioning whether or not they would see the group once more this season. In spite of everything, Butler had shot a mixed 7 of 32 in these two duds whereas laboring along with his injured knee.

Within the rapid wake of Sport 5, although, with the Warmth dealing with elimination, Spoelstra did one thing attention-grabbing at his information convention: He channeled his inside Mister Rogers.

“You’ve bought to get pleasure from this,” he mentioned. “You do. If you wish to break by way of and punch a ticket to the finals, you’re going to need to do some ridiculously robust stuff.”

He added: “We’re nonetheless alive. We’ve a chance to play in entrance of an awesome crowd, and a chance to make a reminiscence that you just’ll bear in mind for a very long time. That’s all we’re fascinated with proper now.”

Spoelstra would know, having coached the Warmth to 2 titles and 5 finals appearances. In his 14th season, he acutely understands the playoffs and the stakes and the pressures and the chances.

If Spoelstra delivered the identical message about alternative to his gamers earlier than Sport 6, Butler will need to have absorbed each phrase of it earlier than utilizing it as gas in opposition to the Celtics.

“His aggression simply opens all the pieces up for everyone else,” Tucker mentioned.

Within the first quarter alone, Butler shot 6 of 10 from the sector and made each of his 3-point makes an attempt whereas gathering 14 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. As a group, the Warmth made 5 3-pointers within the first quarter, which was particularly spectacular contemplating that they had gone 7 of 45 from 3-point vary in Sport 5.

“I believe we performed with a little bit bit extra confidence,” mentioned Kyle Lowry, who had 18 factors and 10 assists within the win. “We performed with some oomph tonight, and it felt good to do it.”

Whereas Butler’s late-game layup gave Miami the lead for good, he sealed the win with lower than a minute left when he took a spinning, turnaround bounce shot from 20 toes with the shot clock set to run out.

“It’s a unique period,” he mentioned. “It’s a unique group.”

And Butler, nonetheless in the hunt for his first championship, appears decided to make his personal mark. At his information convention, he shared the dais with Lowry, who supplied up a quizzical expression when Butler mentioned he had performed a “first rate” recreation. Lowry was requested to elaborate on Butler’s recreation.

“It’s unimaginable,” mentioned Lowry, who supplemented his evaluation with an expletive. “My unhealthy. Don’t high-quality me, N.B.A. That was a mistake, I promise.”

It was among the many solely errors the Warmth made all evening.