Caleb Martin shines as Heat becomes first No. 8 seed since 1999 to reach NBA Finals

Miami avoided becoming the first team in NBA history to blow a 3-0 series lead in large part due to the contributions of Caleb Martin and in the process became only the second No. 8 seed in league history to reach the NBA Finals.

The Heat blew the Celtics out 103-84 Monday night, avoiding an epic collapse and setting up a finals matchup with the West’s No. 1 seed, the Denver Nuggets, that tips off Thursday.

Jimmy Butler led Miami with 28 points and was named Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player, but it was Martin who generated a spark in the closing moments of the third quarter and early in the fourth with eight consecutive points that pushed the Miami lead from 71-64 to 79-66. 

Boston never got any closer.