Nicolas Batum: “This is why the f***”: Nicolas Batum’s wife Aurelie elated as 76ers rally behind French forward to secure playoffs vs Knicks

Nicolas Batum's sharpshooting prowess from beyond the arc, combined with Joel Embiid's dominant performance, boasting a double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds, propelled the Philadelphia 76ers to a narrow 105-104 triumph over the Miami Heat in Wednesday's NBA play-in game.

Nicolas' wife Aurelie Batum took to X to share her candid reaction ensuing his contributions to the win.

"This is why the f*** Batum in"

Batum's stellar display included sinking six 3-pointers, contributing to his total of 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. Additionally, Tyrese Maxey provided a significant offensive boost with 19 points.

Kelly Oubre Jr. chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Tobias Harris contributed nine points and secured 10 boards, solidifying the Sixers' victory on their home court.

The 76ers, seeded seventh, dominated Miami with a 66-53 second-half surge, paving the way for an Eastern Conference first-round playoff showdown against the New York Knicks, who hold the second seed. The series, a best-of-seven, commences on Saturday in New York.

Nicolas Batum shows playoff experience in clutch vs Miami Heat

Haywood Highsmith's floating shot evened the score at 96-96 with only 1 minute and 30 seconds remaining. Oubre's layup, followed by a successful free throw, sealed a critical three-point play with just 36 seconds left on the clock.

Nicolas' block on Herro's 3-point attempt set the stage for Maxey's clutch free throws, extending Philadelphia's lead to 101-96. Despite efforts from Highsmith and Jaquez to narrow Miami's deficit, Oubre and Maxey's free throws provided enough cushion to withstand Herro's late-game heroics, including a free throw and a 3-pointer.

Philadelphia rallied from a 14-point deficit in the first half, taking control with a 79-76 lead following Nicolas' fifth 3-pointer at the 8:58 mark of the fourth quarter. Batum's sixth trey and Embiid's long-range shot propelled the 76ers to a 93-91 advantage with only 2 minutes and 33 seconds left.

A concerning moment arose in the first quarter when Butler appeared to sustain a knee injury following a collision with Oubre. Despite the scare, Butler persevered, notching his fourth steal and facilitating Highsmith's crucial layup, which extended the Heat's lead to 37-26.

New York Knicks have dominated Philadelphia 76ers this season

The New York Knicks, seeded second, secured 50 victories throughout the regular season, while clinching the season series against the Sixers by winning three out of four matchups.

However, it's worth noting that Joel Embiid only participated in one of those encounters. In that game, he tallied an impressive 30 points despite the Knicks dominating with a 36-point victory in Philadelphia on Jan. 5.