When the Sixers needed big buckets, who else was there but Joel Embiid?
Embiid took over late and finished with 23 points, helping the Philadelphia 76ers rally from 14 points down to hold off the Miami Heat, 105-104, in a thrilling no. 7-8 NBA East Play-In Tournament showdown.
Philly gets the #SoFiPlayIn win ??@sixers - 105@MiamiHEAT - 104
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
PHI secures the #7 seed and faces NYK on Saturday in the #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel 🍿 pic.twitter.com/kFIKZkJQsC
Embiid scored 11 fourth-quarter points, none bigger than his top-of-the-key triple with 2:33 left in regulation to give the Sixers the lead, 93-91.
Kyle Lowry steal... Joel Embiid 3-pointer 🎯
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
Philly takes the lead late in the 4th quarter on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/uOxGHf2Jnw
The reigning MVP then found teammate Kelly Oubre down low for a triple-point play that broke the 96-all deadlock and turned it into a 99-96 Philly lead with about 36 seconds ticks left.
KELLY OUBRE TAKES THE LEAD WITH 36 SECONDS LEFT IN THE 4TH QUARTER!@sixers - 99@MiamiHEAT - 96
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
MIA-PHI on ESPN... winner secures the #7 seed in the East! pic.twitter.com/qvHOYjTToG
Nic Batum then had a clutch block on Tyler Herro's triple that helped Philadelphia to hold on.
Blocked by Batum in the CLUTCH 🚫
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
MIA-PHI on ESPN... winner secures the #7 seed in the East! pic.twitter.com/B4Z642rLCB
Both teams traded baskets from that point on with Tyrese Maxey and Oubre hitting some clutch free-throws as Philadelphia now extends its winning streak to nine games dating back to the tail-end of the regular season.
Embiid also grabbed 15 rebounds and had six assists a few hours after being named to the USA men’s basketball team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
However, all of this will not be possible without the surprise outburst of the veteran Nicolas Batum.
The 35-year-old French, who averaged just 5.5 points coming into the game, had 20 points, built on six triples, including 17 in the second half. Maxey and Oubre combined for 30 points.
ANOTHER BATUM 3-POINTER ??
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
Nic Batum hits his 6th-pointer on ESPN to extend Philly's lead! pic.twitter.com/8CYiOylY1C
Meanwhile, Herro topscored the Heat with 25 points with Butler adding 19.
Just like last year, Butler and the reigning East champions need to win a do-or-die game in the Play-In Tournament to make it to the playoffs.
They will play the winner of the Chicago Bulls-Atlanta Hawks match for the right to face the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the opening round.
The Heat actually led in the second frame, 51-37, after a Caleb Martin triple for their biggest lead of the game.
Caleb Martin caps a 9-0 run in Philly to extend Miami's lead!
MIA-PHI on ESPN pic.twitter.com/TRQiTecZSs
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
Miami forced Philadelphia for 12 turnovers that the Heat converted to 16 points in the first half.
The battle for the eighth seed will take place on Saturday, April 20, at 7 a.m. LIVE on NBA TV Philippines.
