The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat will play Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena on Sunday night with the winner earning a trip to the 2022 NBA Finals, where the Golden State Warriors are waiting.
The Celtics had a chance to reach the Finals on Friday night but couldn't protect a late fourth-quarter lead in Game 6. Jimmy Butler scored 47 points -- the second-most for a player facing elimination in playoff history -- to help the Heat stave off elimination on the road.
Boston hasn't won a Game 7 on the road since the 1974 NBA Finals, excluding the 2020 playoffs that were played in the Florida bubble. However, they've already won twice in Miami this series -- Game 2 and Game 5. The Celtics also own a 6-2 record on the road in the 2022 playoffs.
The keys for the Celtics are limiting turnovers and preventing the Heat from getting too many offensive rebounds. The C's have allowed the Heat to score a ton of points in this series off turnovers and from second-chance opportunities. If the Celtics stay under 15 turnovers they will probably win.
Here's everything you need to know to watch Sunday's Celtics vs. Heat Game 7, featuring NBC Sports Boston's full coverage, including "Celtics Pregame Live" and "Celtics Postgame Live."
What time do the Celtics play the Heat?
Tipoff between the Celtics and Heat is set for Sunday, May 29, at 8:30 p.m. ET at FTX Arena.
What TV channel is Celtics vs. Heat on?
Celtics-Heat will air on ESPN.
Celtics Pregame Live begins on NBC Sports Boston at 7:30 p.m. ET. Watch the show live here and in the MyTeams app.
Stay with NBC Sports Boston after the game for Celtics Postgame Live. You can watch here and in the MyTeams app.
How to stream Celtics vs. Heat live online
Celtics Pregame Live stream: NBC Sports Boston
Celtics vs. Heat: Watch ESPN
Celtics Postgame Live stream: NBC Sports Boston
Mobile app: MyTeams
Celtics vs. Heat live stream: Watch Game 7 of East Finals in Miami originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat will play Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena on Sunday night with the winner earning a trip to the 2022 NBA Finals, where the Golden State Warriors are waiting.
The Celtics had a chance to reach the Finals on Friday night but couldn't protect a late fourth-quarter lead in Game 6. Jimmy Butler scored 47 points -- the second-most for a player facing elimination in playoff history -- to help the Heat stave off elimination on the road.
Boston hasn't won a Game 7 on the road since the 1974 NBA Finals, excluding the 2020 playoffs that were played in the Florida bubble. However, they've already won twice in Miami this series -- Game 2 and Game 5. The Celtics also own a 6-2 record on the road in the 2022 playoffs.
The keys for the Celtics are limiting turnovers and preventing the Heat from getting too many offensive rebounds. The C's have allowed the Heat to score a ton of points in this series off turnovers and from second-chance opportunities. If the Celtics stay under 15 turnovers they will probably win.
In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area.
Here's everything you need to know to watch Sunday's Celtics vs. Heat Game 7, featuring NBC Sports Boston's full coverage, including "Celtics Pregame Live" and "Celtics Postgame Live."
What time do the Celtics play the Heat?
Tipoff between the Celtics and Heat is set for Sunday, May 29, at 8:30 p.m. ET at FTX Arena.
What TV channel is Celtics vs. Heat on?
Celtics-Heat will air on ESPN.
Celtics Pregame Live begins on NBC Sports Boston at 7:30 p.m. ET. Watch the show live here and in the MyTeams app.
Stay with NBC Sports Boston after the game for Celtics Postgame Live. You can watch here and in the MyTeams app.
How to stream Celtics vs. Heat live online
Celtics Pregame Live stream: NBC Sports Boston
Celtics vs. Heat: Watch ESPN
Celtics Postgame Live stream: NBC Sports Boston
Mobile app: MyTeams
The Athletic Staff
{{monthName}} {{day}}, {{year}} at {{hour12}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}} {{dayPeriod}}Jimmy Butler took center stage with 47 points as the Heat forced Game 7 with a 111-103 win over the Celtics. This was Butler’s seventh 30-point game of the 2022 playoffs.
Game 7 is at 8:30 p.m. Sunday in Miami. The winner gets the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco for Game 1 of the Finals on Thursday.
How to watch Celtics vs Heat: Streaming and channels
Watch the NBA conference finals with Fubo TV | Hulu + Live TV
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(Photo by Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
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Jimmy Butler's 47 points help Heat force Game 7 vs. Celtics in Eastern Conference finals
It happened again. The Boston Celtics let a Game 6 of the conference finals, in their building, slip away to the Miami Heat and a guy named “James.”
There will be a seventh game to decide who represents the East at the Finals next week, because Jimmy Butler did his best LeBron James impression with a 47-point performance in the Heat’s 111-103 win on Friday night.
Game 7 is at 8:30 p.m. Sunday in Miami. The winner gets the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco for Game 1 of the Finals on Thursday.
Read more.
Joe Vardon·
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Jimmy Butler on ESPN:
Jared Weiss·
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A Heat win = three more days rest for the Warriors
That guarantees the Warriors three more days of between series rest than their Finals opponent. They had a two-day rest advantage over Grizzlies and Mavericks and beat both in Game 1.
Anthony Slater·
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Butler is rare
Tony Jones·
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Jimmy Butler channeled his inner LeBron James
Gotta give my colleague Joe Vardon credit. He suggested that Jimmy Butler needed to channel his inner "Heatles" LeBron James if the Heat wanted to win Game 6 in Boston and play a Game 7 in Miami. Butler finished with 47 points (a career playoff high), nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals. He made 16 of 29 shots, including 4 of 8 from the 3-point line, and he hit all 11 of his free throws.
Butler also hit a clutch bucket with 43.9 seconds remaining that gave the Heat a 107-101 lead, a bucket that proved to be the proverbial nail in the coffin.
Damon Sayles·
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In the end, Boston executed
Brutal execution from Boston at the end. Tie game with three minutes left, took a brutal Smart 3 after dribbling out the shot clock, missed two free throws by Brown, botched a switch/show for a Butler and-1, and committed two fouls miles from the basket to hand Miami four more free-throw attempts.
John Hollinger·
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Double vision
LeBron James, 2012 ECF Game 6, down 3-2 in Boston: 45 points
Jimmy Butler, 2022 ECF Game 6, down 3-2 in Boston: 45 points
Jared Weiss·
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He just keeps going
Fred Katz·
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Six-point game, Celtics take bad fouls
In a six-point game, Miami’s last three points have come on fouls 45 and 90 feet from the basket. Really bad fouls by the Celtics.
David Aldridge·
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Lowry fouls out
Jay King·
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Derrick White tries and...
Jared Weiss·
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Derrick White for the lead
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Tatum drawing the foul calls
Jared Weiss·
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Silencers
Jay King·
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Thing to watch: substitutions
One thing to watch the rest of the way, and especially the next seven minutes: Substitutions. Among Butler, Adebayo, Brown and Tatum, will any of them come out of the game in the second half? If so, for how long do their coaches dare to keep them out?
John Hollinger·
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Miami opens up a 12-point lead
Miami has opened up a 12-point lead on Boston, but you've got to think the Celtics have one more run — maybe two — left in them.
If (big if) that happens, keep an eye on free-throw shooting down the stretch. Both teams have been perfect from the line tonight with 5:30 left in the third quarter. The Heat have made 9 of 9; the Celtics have made 14 of 14. In games like this, every point is key.
Damon Sayles·
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Miami goes 11-for-22 tonight
Miami has continued to be aggressive, with even Adebayo getting to the deep post to finally hit his turnaround over Horford. Miami went from shooting 7-for-45 in Game 5 to now 11-for-22 tonight and open up a 12-point lead now that Max Strus is back.
Jared Weiss·
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Heat up 70-58
Jay King·
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Grant Williams starts for Rob Williams in second half
Jared Weiss·
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They have a turnover problem
Turnovers are a problem on both sides. The Heat’s 13 turnovers cost them 18 Boston points. The Celtics’ 10 turnovers became 11 Heat points. Strus is still struggling, phew boy. He’s 1-of-6 tonight (0-3 from 3), which makes him 1-of-22 over the last three games. Smart is having a tough. night for Boston (1-of-7). PJ Tucker and Al Horford are in foul trouble. And the stars are showing up. Jimmy Butler IS pulling his best LeBron (21 points, 9 boards, 6 assists); Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are up to 18 points apiece, and yep, Kyle Lowry looks like a resemblance of Kyle Lowry (10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists). Added it all up and we have a 2-point game at halftime of an elimination game.
Joe Vardon·
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Jaylen Brown scoring with gauze in his nose
Jaylen Brown scoring all these points with gauze up his nose…you think that might be an enduring image in Boston if the Celtics win this game?
Joe Vardon·
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Heat in trouble...
Heat are gonna kick themselves if they lose this game. They’ve played so well and so fiercely at both ends of the floor, but they’re up to 12 first-half turnovers in 21 minutes, and that’s kept Boston in the game.
David Aldridge·
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Tatum learns patience
Pretty impressive discipline by Tatum on that last Lowry pick-and-roll; they know Lowry will not shoot a jumper going to his right, and so Tatum just waiting for him on the left side of the screen and disregarded what the screener was doing.
John Hollinger·
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Jimmy Butler: 3-for-3
Jimmy Butler made three 3-pointers in a game just once during the regular season. He is 3 for 3 so far tonight over the first quarter and a half.
Jay King·
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More on Butler's historic night
Jimmy Butler, with 17 points and counting tonight, has passed Hal Greer for 7th on the NBA’s all-time playoffs scoring list.
Joe Vardon·
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Boston within striking distance
The Celtics needed that stretch from Jayson Tatum. He hit a 3, cut for a dunk, then drilled a fadeaway over the top of Butler. And, in between that, he found the time to pick up Kyle Lowry full court. Boston within 32-31 after a slow start.
Jay King·
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Tucker replaces Bam, room for Tatum to find wheelhouse
Jared Weiss·
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What's Brett Brown calling him?
Somewhere, Brett Brown is calling him James Butler right now.
Jay King·
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Jimmy Butler, have a day
So…today I wrote it would take a LeBron-like performance from Game 6 10 years ago to save the Heat tonight. Jimmy Butler already has 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists and we are not yet through the first quarter.
Joe Vardon·
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Celtics continue to make defensive mistakes
The Celtics have made so many defensive mistakes so far, even just getting their coverages wrong and letting a still sluggish Kyle Lowry glide into the paint. Then on offense, they have struggled to move the ball side to side and Butler is once again jumping passing lanes to get out on the break. Miami actually failed to capitalize on a few good looks the Celtics have gifted them and this really should be a double-digit Heat lead. Miami has been great so far, aside from Adebayo continuing to be missing his edge for some reason.
Jared Weiss·
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Celtics get 5 quick turnovers
Five quick turnovers for the Celtics. They have emphasized all series the importance of taking care of the ball, but they've struggled with it for long stretches. Butler has made a couple of great plays in the passing lanes already.
Jay King·
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Jimmy Butler better, but still not the best
Jimmy Butler is definitely moving better than he was, but it's twice already that he's turned down a chance to power up and challenge a Boston player at the rim in transition.
John Hollinger·
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More points with a change
The Heat eschewed coach Vardon's suggestion to change the starting backcourt for Game 6 and, more shockingly, are getting actual points from them. Max Strus and Kyle Lowry have seven quick points as Miami races out to an early 12-5 lead.
John Hollinger·
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Lowry, Strus playing better than Game 5
Naturally, Kyle Lowry AND Max Strus are playing about 100000 times better. Lowry looks like he CAN move after all and knocked down his first 3, and Strus’ dunk broke an 0-for-16 skid.
Joe Vardon·
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A moment of silence and pleas for change
During a moment of silence in Boston for the Uvalde shooting, a man in the crowd yelled “do something.” Another yelled “the police should have done something.” And then the PA announcer urged all in attendance to call their U.S. Senator to urge passage of pending gun control legislation, and the crowd erupted in applause.
Joe Vardon·
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Big game energy
Biggest game at TD Garden since Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals in 2018. I was here for it — LeBron James played 48 minutes and willed the Cavs past Boston and into the Finals again. Most signs point to this being Jayson Tatum’s turn. Will Jimmy Butler let it pass? Fantastic atmosphere on a Friday night in Beantown.
Joe Vardon·
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Grant Williams: "we are going from the hunted to the hunters"
Jared Weiss·
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History is on the Heat's side in elimination games
The Heat are 11-8 under Erik Spoelstra in ‘elimination’ games. They’re 3-0 in Eastern Conference finals games and have never lost a conference final under Spoelstra (5-0). Miami did a couple of things well in its Game 5 loss. One, the Heat defended. Secondly, they had 19 offensive rebounds, tied for second-most in team playoff history.
(Photo: Jim Rassol / USA TODAY)
Joe Vardon·
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The NBA's gold standard
The Lakers’ and Celtics’ franchises have been the NBA’s gold standard for 75 years, with the teams tied with 17 championships apiece. Just as amazing – as with Jack Nicklaus’ 19 second-place finishes in golf majors, to go with his 18 titles – is the frequency that both franchises have made the Finals. Including its first years in Minneapolis, the Lakers franchise has been in 32 of the NBA’s 75 championship series before this year’s, and has, since its first appearance in 1949, never gone more than 10 years between finals appearances. The Lakers’ longest absence from the finals was between 2010 and 2020, when L.A. won its 17th title, in the Orlando Bubble. Boston’s made 21 finals, and the Celtics’ current streak of 11 years since their last finals appearance, in 2011, is the franchise’s second-longest drought since Boston went 20 seasons (1987-2008) between championship series.
David Aldridge·
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The experts give their picks, the latest odds and additional coverage
After an ugly first half, Boston pulled away from Miami in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals and is one game away from booking a trip to the NBA Finals. The Celtics can close things out at home on Friday.
With Tyler Herro out the past two games and Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry playing below 100 percent due to injuries, Miami doesn’t look like a team capable of beating Boston twice in a row. Do the Heat have anything left in the tank?
(Photo: Jim Rassol / USA TODAY)
Nick Groke·
GO FURTHER
Heat at Celtics: NBA Eastern Conference finals Game 6 picks, odds
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On this day four years ago, Jayson Tatum threw down this monstrous dunk
In 2018 then-rookie Jayson Tatum threw down this now-iconic poster!
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"Poor defender"
Jay King·
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What's with all the blowouts?
Looking strictly at the frequency of blowouts, this postseason is on pace to be the least competitive since 2004. Through Tuesday, nearly 29 percent of all playoff games were decided by a margin of 20 or more, edging out 2016 (27.9 percent) and 2017 (26.9 percent):
(Photo: Jim Rassol / USA TODAY)
Seth Partnow·
GO FURTHER
Why have there been so many blowouts in the NBA playoffs? We have some ideas
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Marcus Smart and Robert Williams available for Game 6
Jay King·
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Derrick White on people saying the series is over:
Jared Weiss·
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Tyler Herro to miss Game 6
The Miami Heat are going to have to try and extend their season without Tyler Herro.
Herro will miss his third consecutive game against the Boston Celtics due to a strained left hamstring. He has tried to convince the Miami Heat trainers to give him the green light to play, but the injury is apparently significant enough that he is at further risk of damage if he tried to run or cut.
The Celtics hold a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference finals and can close out the series tonight.
Herro, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, is averaging 13.5 points for the playoffs and 12.3 points in this series.
Joe Vardon·
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Ime Udoka on the availability of Marcus Smart and Robert Williams
Both Marcus Smart and Robert Williams are game-time decisions for Game 6
Jay King·
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The Celtics stand tall in Game 5
MIAMI — Everybody is banged up this deep into the season. But the Celtics and Heat are barely standing. The stars look like shells of themselves. They can hardly hit a shot.
This is why the Celtics were designed to be an unsolvable, unrelenting defensive force — so that when they went cold, they could send a blizzard their opponent’s way. Jaylen Brown had a disastrous first half turning the ball over. Jayson Tatum looked like he could barely use his right shoulder. Neither team could hit a 3 to save its life (and season).
(Photo: Jim Rassol / USA TODAY)
Jared Weiss·
GO FURTHER
As battle of attrition grinds Heat, Celtics stand tall to finally reach brink of NBA Finals
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Derrick White speaks on the importance of consistency in the playoffs
This series has had its ups and downs, but the Celtics will look to stay humble as they prepare to take on a tough-minded Heat team Friday night.
Jared Weiss·
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Can Jimmy Butler and company find a way to extend the series Friday night?
BOSTON — As Erik Spoelstra sat up on the dais, answering a question about the mood of his Miami Heat locker room after the team had been pushed to the edge of seasonal extinction, it was as though he’d channeled the late Marty Schottenheimer, he of “there’s a gleam, men” acclaim.
Spoelstra’s eyes came alive. His expression brightened. His mind went to a place where only championship coaches can go, to a specific block on memory lane where men under his direction did something transcendent, unexpected, extraordinary to reach that ultimate glory.
(Photo: Jim Rassol / USA TODAY)
Joe Vardon·
GO FURTHER
Can Jimmy Butler be Miami's 'Heatles' LeBron James for Game 6 in Boston?
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The Heat will stick with the same starting lineup going into Game 6
Joe Vardon·
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Grant Williams speaks on taking it one game at a time
The Celtics won't overlook a wounded Heat team going into Game 6
Jared Weiss·
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Who was the guy, Key stats, and more from Game 5?
Who was the guy? Jayson Tatum. There were times early in this game in which the Boston Celtics star looked like he was moving around like Lt. Riggs from “Lethal Weapon,” after his shoulder has been dislocated and he’s looking for a wall to slam it back into place. His jumpers were short. He couldn’t do anything scoring the ball. And it was fair to wonder if he should be out there if his shoulder was that bad. Then the second half happened. After scoring four points on 1-of-9 shooting in the first half, Tatum exploded for 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting in the second half. He added eight rebounds and four assists. It gave him a performance of 22 points on 7-of-20 shooting with 12 rebounds and nine assists.
(Photo: Jim Rassol / USA TODAY)
Zach Harper·
GO FURTHER
Zach Harper's key stat, key moment and more from Celtics-Heat Game 5
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After a huge second half, the NBA Finals are within reach for the Celtics
MIAMI — Marcus Smart waved at the Celtics bench, letting the coaches know he wanted to stay in the game. After picking up his fourth foul early in the third quarter Wednesday night, Smart knew how important the coming stretch would be. He pointed to his head, ensuring the coaching staff knew he would be intelligent the rest of the way.
Smart didn’t want anyone taking him off the court. Not during a quarter that could decide the Celtics’ season. On the sideline, Ime Udoka had a decision to make. He chose to put his faith in Smart. After a first half to regret for everyone involved, Udoka chose to ride the Celtics’ early third-quarter rhythm.
(Photo: Jim Rassol / USA TODAY)
Jay King·
GO FURTHER
Celtics' huge second half puts NBA Finals in reach, but 'the job’s not finished yet'
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Is Grant Williams becoming the next P.J. Tucker?
While Grant Williams and P.J. Tucker stood nose-to-nose during an intense Game 3 moment, Rick Barnes chuckled to himself. Of course Williams and Tucker would get into it, Barnes thought.
“They’re too much alike,” Barnes said during a phone call Wednesday. “They’re going to go at it.”
Barnes, who coached Tucker at Texas and Williams at Tennessee, has always seen similarities between the two players. Now, with Williams and Tucker meeting for the first time in the playoffs, Barnes has a unique perspective on the matchup. He recruited both players when they were “undersized and overweight,” as he put it, but always trusted their willingness to compete.
(Photo: Jim Rassol / USA TODAY)
Jay King·
GO FURTHER
Grant Williams the next P.J. Tucker? Coach Rick Barnes has long seen similarities