As Game 7 of the NBA Finals is set to jumpstart Thursday night, some of Miami's star players have a few choice words for fans who were stuck outside AmericanAirlines Arena after leaving before the conclusion of the Heat's Game 6 win over the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night.
"For all those guys who left, make sure you don't come to Game 7," center Chris Bosh deadpanned before the team's practice session Wednesday. "We only want the guys who are going to stay in the building for the whole game. You never give up. People gave up on us. They can stay where they are and watch the game at home."
Coach Erik Spoelstra and a few Heat players said Wednesday they saw televised news footage of dejected fans filing out the arena Tuesday night as the Spurs appeared to be on the verge of clinching a championship with a win in Game 6.
Miami trailed 94-89 but rallied behind a pair of 3-pointers from LeBron James and Ray Allen to storm back for a 103-100 overtime win, becoming one of the most thrilling finishes in NBA Finals history. Many fans who had already left the arena didn't see the shot and were forced to watch the events unfold from outside the team's store.
James empathized with the fickle fans.
"I apologize to our fans from last night," James said lightheartedly Wednesday, a day after the Heat's 103-100 win forced a decisive Game 7 on Thursday night. "But -- that's why the game is played all the way to the zeros. As a fan, and people watching at home, I know it had to -- wow -- it had to do a lot to them."
Game 7 is set to air Thursday, June 20 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
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