Jimmy Butler knocked out Joel Embiid of the playoffs, then went to his former 76ers teammate for a hug and a message.
“I am proud with him. I love him, “Butler told Embiid. “Yes, yes, yes, I still want to be on his team. Still, I love the Miami Heath. I’m glad to be here. “
Another trip to the conference finals is coming up, Heat are glad to have it.
Butler scored 32 points and waved goodbye to the Philadelphia crowd as he sent Miami to the Eastern Conference finals with a 99-90 victory over Philadelphia on Thursday night in Game 6.
Heath will play the winner of the Milwaukee-Boston series. Defended champion Bucks leads the series 3-2, with a game of 6 on Friday night in Milwaukee.
The Heat reached the conference finals for the second time in three seasons, again led by Butler. Philly fans – and many in the 76ers’ organization – still can’t believe the franchise allowed Butler to get away after the 2019 season. He didn’t mess up and scored 14 points in a 6 out of 9 shooting in the third quarter when the Heat used series 16-2 to take control. Butler scored 33 points in Game 3 and 40 in Game 4.
“I think he is one of the best athletes in this profession,” said coach Eric Spoelstra. “He was brilliant throughout the series. Here the challenges only get harder. He saw that he had a chance to end it tonight, and he wouldn’t let it get to seven. “
Embiid, the NBA goal champion, scored 20 points in a 7 out of 24 shooting.
Jimmy Butler’s 32 points led the hotspots in match 6.
After winning 35 points in Game 5, the Heat defeated a battered Sixers team. Embid looked tired as he playfully tried to wear the Sixers. He had a little lift and had a recall jumper blocked by Bam Adebayo in the third.
The Sixers parted ways with Butler largely because they chose Ben Simmons over him. Simmons was unhappy and forced an exchange this season in Brooklyn for James Harden. Harden, a three-time points champion, had to take on the Embiid load for a powerful boost after the season. Instead, Harden almost disappeared in the playoffs. He had a fantastic 4 game at home against Miami, but otherwise he was a speed machine. When he lost another ball that led to Heat’s bucket and an 80-63 lead in the fourth, the Sixers were booed off the court.
“We tried to do it right away,” Harden said. “We’ve just had enough.”
Harden scored all 11 points in the first half. He had four turns and four baskets. Harden, who has a $ 47.4 million player option for 2022-2023, missed both shots in the second half and scored his last basket at 3:31 in the second quarter.
Few in Philadelphia would give Beard a minimal grade. Harden said he would return next season.
Coach Doc Rivers begs his team to “fight for it!” In the training camp during the fourth. The 76ers just fell.
“I came to the conclusion at the end of this game that we weren’t good enough to beat Miami,” Rivers said.
Rivers signed for the 2024-25 season and another early exit – the 76ers were ranked No. 1 last year and lost in the second round – and his job status is a hot topic of conversation.
“I am not worried about my job. I think I’m doing a great job. If you don’t, then you have to write it, “Rivers said. “Because I worked hard to bring this team here. When I first came here, no one chose us to be anywhere. This year the same. If anyone feels that way, write. I will feel confident in that. “
Max Strus recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds for Heath. Even another horrible three-point night – Miami missed 21 of 28 attempts – didn’t matter.
Embiid once again gutted a post-season match with his mask (fracture of the right orbit) and torn ligaments of his right thumb, after only last week he was allowed to return from a concussion. He was holding the back of his head after knocking him on the court after falling at the end of the second quarter. Embid still played 22 minutes in the first half and scored 14 points.
Embiid missed the first two games of the series as he recovered from the concussion. The Sixers lost both games in Miami. Would a healthy Embiid make a difference? Maybe not, but this is another sudden end to the All-Star cornerstone that has yet to reach the conference finals.
Phoenix Suns 86-113 Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic scored 33 points and the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Phoenix Suns 113-86 on Thursday night to make match 7 in the Western Conference semifinals.
The home team won all six games, none with a final difference of less than seven points. The decisive match is Sunday in Phoenix.
The Mavericks won when they faced elimination for the first time from three attempts with Doncic, their three-time All Star.
The two losses came against the Clippers in the last two seasons, including Game 7 in Los Angeles last year, after the visitors won the first six games, the first in the playoffs. Dallas is playing after the first round for the first time since winning the title 11 years ago.
Dallas Mavericks ‘Luka Doncic reacted to Phoenix Suns’ Tori Craig during the fourth quarter of Thursday’s game. Photo: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images
The Suns, who are looking for a second consecutive trip to the West Finals, are covering the distance in a series for the first time in two postseason with Chris Paul and Devin Booker. The previous three were six, including Phoenix’s loss to Milwaukee last year in the NBA Finals.
Booker scored 19 points, but was excluded from the 3-point range (0 of 4) while continuing 6 of 17. Deandre Ayton had 21 points and 11 rebounds and Paul added 13 points.
The top-ranked Suns were held to the lowest score for the season, regular season or playoffs, for the second time in the series.
Add Comment