NBA Conference Finals | Jimmy Butler’s 47 points force Game 7 for Heat, Celtics

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler shook off his bad form to singlehandedly carry his team to a 111-103 victory over Boston Celtics to tie the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at 3-3

A struggling Jimmy Butler strung together three poor outings at a very bad time but made up for his struggles in a big way on Friday night.

The ultracompetitive forward shook off all the misfired shots and the aches in his right knee while singlehandedly carrying the Miami Heat to a 111-103 victory over the host Boston Celtics on Friday night to tie the Eastern Conference finals at three games apiece.

Butler set a personal playoff high with 47 points and also contributed nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals in a stellar all-around performance.

"My teammates and my coaches let me know to be aggressive and go out there and be the best player on the floor," Butler said. "I just have to remember that every time I take the floor."

Butler had scored a total of 27 points over the previous three games before erupting during a must-win situation in Game 6.

He made 16 of 29 field-goal attempts—including 4 of 8 from 3-point range—and sank all 11 free-throw attempts while reaching the 40-point mark for the second time in this series and the fourth time this postseason.

The inflammation in Butler's right knee caused him to miss the second half of Game 3. Shooting 10 of 40 from the field in a three-game span hurt just as much.