For the sixth time in 12 seasons and the second time in three years, the Miami Heat are going to the Eastern Conference finals.
With no want for a detour to a Game 7 in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Seizing management within the third quarter, the Heat pushed previous the 76ers 99-90 Thursday night time at Well Fargo Center to shut out the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals 3-1.
After twice being pummeled on the 76ers’ homecourt earlier within the sequence, the Heat this time didn’t precisely silence the Philadelphia crowd, however they did create a cascade of boos that started initially of the third quarter and saved going from there.
Next up for the Heat is the winner of the East semifinal that the Milwaukee Bucks lead 3-2 in opposition to the Boston Celtics, going into Friday Game 6 in Milwaukee.
For the entire 76ers’ woes, from the facial fracture that saved heart Joel Embiid out for the sequence’ first two video games to the knee harm that sidelined Philadelphia ahead Danny Green early in Thursday’s sport, the Heat overcame adversity of their very own, profitable the sequence’ closing two video games with level guard Kyle Lowry lowered to spectator by a hamstring pressure.
Jimmy Butler sustained his strong playoff play with 32 factors, with Max Strus persevering with his playoff emergence with 20 factors and 11 rebounds. The Heat additionally received 10 factors and eight rebounds from heart Bam Adebayo, who offered stout protection in opposition to Embiid.
Embiid scored 20 for the 76ers, however did it on 7-of-24 taking pictures. Otherwise there have been 20 factors from Tyrese Maxey, 14 from Tobias Harris and 11 from James Harden, however little of sustained substance for Philadelphia.
Five Degrees of Heat from Thursday’s sport:
1. Closing time: The Heat led 28-25 after the primary quarter and 49-48 on the intermission. A 23-4 third-quarter run then pushed the result in 16, earlier than the 76ers closed inside 74-63 going into the fourth.
The 76ers later minimize what was a 20-point Heat result in 11 with 2:47 to play, earlier than Gabe Vincent, filling in for Lowry, transformed a 3-pointer with 2:21 to go.
2. Statement made: Butler scored 9 factors within the sport’s first 5:01, then went scoreless for the steadiness of the primary half.
He then scored 13 factors in a 19-4 Heat begin to the third interval. He closed the third with 14 within the quarter, 21 for the sport.
Butler’s seventeenth level moved him previous Mark Aguirre for eighty fifth on the NBA all-time playoff scoring record, along with his twenty second transferring him previous Joe Dumars for 84th.
3. Subtle brilliance: It had been an irritable few days for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra when it got here to questions on Adebayo’s statistics. Thursday was one other night time when the Heat’s heart’s numbers hardly advised essentially the most substantive story.
Aggressive defensively whereas usually in one-on-one protection in opposition to Embiid, Adebayo helped maintain the 76ers’ heart 6 of 12 taking pictures by the sport’s first three intervals.
And not like Spoelstra’s measured strategy, it was Embiid or bust for the 76ers, with Embiid enjoying all by 92 seconds by three intervals. A 97-second relaxation adopted earlier than Embiid returned within the fourth quarter, airballing a 3-point try.
4. Strus, once more: After an uneven begin to the sequence, Strus adopted up his 19-point effort in Game 5 with 16 in Thursday’s first half.
Strus opened 3 of 5 on 3-pointers, with the remainder of the Heat 1 of 10 from past the arc within the first half (a Butler 3-pointer).
Strus once more additionally hit the boards, closing along with his second profession playoff double-double in as many video games.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra tried to provide Duncan Robinson one other rotation function, however pulled him as quickly as Harden re-entered for the 76ers.
5. Compromised begin: The 76ers misplaced Green for the night time simply 3:06 in with a knee harm.
That pressured Matisse Thybulle into the sport, who then rapidly was referred to as for 2 fouls, with Shake Milton following.
Thybulle opened the second half rather than Green, who had tormented the Heat in Philadelphia’s earlier two residence video games within the sequence along with his 10-of-13 3-point taking pictures. Green transformed his lone 3-point try earlier than exiting Thursday.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com