By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Philadelphia 76ers managed to overcome the Play-In obstacle against the Miami Heat, winning 105-104 to qualify as a 7th-seeded team in the NBA Playoffs to face 2nd-seed New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference First Round.
Coming off the bench, Nicolas Batum had a significant impact on his team’s success, scoring 20 points with 5 rebounds, and shooting 6/10 from beyond the arc. “We won the game because of them. Those guys stepped up and we won the game”, Joel Embiid said about him and Buddy Hield.
Last year’s NBA MVP ended with a double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds. “Lots of booing. We stuck together. It just shows you that I don’t play my best, I don’t get to my spots the whole game until the fourth quarter, and we still find a way to win”, he also commented.
On the losing side, which will now face Chicago – which beat the Atlanta Hawks in the 9th-10th Play-In clash -, Nikola Jovic only had 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in 14 minutes of playing time. Jimmy Butler scored 19 points with 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals, but was conditioned by an injury.
Possibly having injured his right knee, he showed his disappointment. “It felt like I couldn’t do too much, which sucks with the timing of the game and everything. I hope that I’m fine. I hope that I wake up tomorrow and can still stick-and-move. Right now, I can’t stay that’s the case”, he sadly said.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images