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The Miami Heat vs Philadelphia 76ers game on Wednesday marked the opening of the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament and set the stage for intriguing storylines. This included Jimmy Butler facing his former team, the 76ers, and Kyle Lowry playing against his former team, the Heat.
The Miami Heat exhibited strong defensive play, allowing them to secure a 51-39 lead at halftime.
Despite an early injury scare, Jimmy Butler remained in the game and contributed 10 points in the first half. Tyler Herro struggled with his shooting, making just 4-of-12 attempts from the field, but still managed to chip in nine points and three rebounds by halftime.
Miami made six three-pointers in the first half, twice as many as the 76ers. Joel Embiid scored 10 points and made six of his seven free throws while grabbing six rebounds in the first half. Tyrese Maxey, a candidate for Most Improved Player, scored nine points, and Kyle Lowry contributed seven points.
The 76ers committed 11 turnovers as a team in the first half. However, they mounted a comeback in the second half, fueled by a standout performance from Nic Batum.
Despite averaging less than six points per game this season, Batum delivered a strong second half, finishing with 20 points, including six three-pointers.
In a crucial moment in the clutch with the 76ers ahead by three points, Batum made a huge block on Herro.
Despite the Heat's efforts to catch up in the final minutes, the 76ers secured the victory with a final score of 105-104.
Herro led the game in scoring with 25 points, shooting 9-of-27 from the field. Butler contributed 19 points to the Heat's effort.
Embiid scored 23 points for the 76ers, while Maxey added 19 points in nearly 44 minutes of play.
The 76ers will advance to play the No. 2 New York Knicks in the first round. The 76ers had a 1-3 record against the Knicks in the regular season.
Meanwhile, the Heat will compete against the winner of the Atlanta Hawks-Chicago Bulls game for the eighth seed. The winner of the game between the Heat and the winner of the Hawks-Bulls game will then face the league-leading Boston Celtics in the first round.
With the Miami Heat vs Philadelphia 76ers game over, focus is likely to shift to Butler and Embiid, who appeared to be hobbled by their injuries and did not look like their usual selves.
Miami Heat vs Philadelphia 76ers player stats and box score
Miami Heat player stats and box score
Philadelphia 76ers player stats and box score
Guess the Lakers players!
