By: Kylan Watson

The Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers played each other again for the second time in two weeks . This time with the seventh seed on the line and with it the right to face the New York Knicks on Saturday night in the playoffs. Both of these teams traded blows throughout this game and blew significant leads in this contest. Which was the kickoff of the Eastern Conference portion of the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament. However, when it mattered most Nicolas Batum, Buddy Hield, and Joel Embiid made big shots for Philly. Those shots allowed them to beat Miami in a thriller 105-104.

The Sixers once again found their offensive rhythm early in the contest. They cashed in on the high percentage shot opportunities created off their ball movement. Before the Heat could even settle in, they were down by eight points. Miami stopped that though by switching to their two-three zone defensive scheme.

The Sixers immediately started to turn the ball over, and Miami scored 17 points off of them. That helped them get out to a 14-point lead by half-time. The scoring also unlocked the duo of Tyler Herro (25 points), and Jimmy Butler (19 points) were held in check throughout the game, but the turnovers gave them easy opportunities to score. They combined for 44 of Miami’s 104 points. Both players attacked the basket and although they each struggled shooting the ball during this game. They found their rhythm when the Heat needed it most. Philly had no answers for them throughout the early portion of the contest.

Luckily for the Sixers the half-time break came at just the right time. Whatever Philly Head Coach Nick Nurse said to them clearly worked. Philly started to attack the basket and move the ball against Miami’s zone defense. That opened up those high percentage shooting opportunities again and Philly finally got the three-point basket to fall. Thanks to Nicolas Batum who made six/10 three-pointers and scored 20 points (season high) for the Sixers. This was Batum’s best game since joining the Sixers in November. He gave the Sixers a lift when they were struggling. Additionally, his shooting and two-way ability combined with Buddy Hield’s aggressively attacking the paint and hitting lay-ups. Allowed Philly to overcome the Heat’s 14-point deficit. Their play gave the Sixers enough time to finally get Joel Embiid (23 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and had five assists) going he hit two late three-pointers and an and-one lay-up to close this game. He finally took what the defense gave him and made an unbelievable pass to Kelly Oubre Jr. which helped them stay ahead of Miami in this contest.

Credit to the Sixers who took this game from Miami. After looking dead in the water throughout the first half of this game. Nick Nurse’s ability to adjust combined with Morey’s mid-season acquisitions won them this game. He used Batum’s two-way ability to shutdown Butler and Herro late in this contest. Batum rewarded his coach’s confidence by blocking a Herro three-point attempt to close the door on the Heat’s comeback attempt.

On the significance of the win, “I’m just glad we got a win. I’m glad I can go to the playoffs for the first time. I’m ready,” said Hield.

This contest against Miami really highlighted the depth that Philly acquired through the James Harden trade and getting Hield in February. Has given the Sixers multiple guys who can guard the perimeter. That ability to increase the defensive pressure forced Miami into turnovers that helped Philly win the game. They will need that wing depth as they start their series against the New York Knicks over the weekend.

That series will be a tough one for both teams. However, the Sixers can win that series if they can continue to play dominant perimeter defense throughout the entire matchup. Philly will have to force the Knicks to make difficult shots and not give them high-percentage shooting opportunities. Also, they will have to limit the Knicks to one possession. They cannot give Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, and the rest of New York’s shooters multiple chances to put the ball in the hoop. If they do that, they will fall to the Knicks in four to five games. However, if they can play great perimeter defense along with making their high percentage shooting opportunities. Created off their ball movement they can pull off the upset and beat the Knicks in five to six games.