2024-04-18 09:42:36
“NBA”: the Sixers reach the playoffs… and the Bulls beat the Hawks
The Philadelphia 76ers, led by their star player Joel Embiid, reached the playoffs by defeating the Miami Heat 105-104 on Wednesday in the NBA Eastern Conference playoff contest.
The Sixers, seventh in the regular league, have set a date with the runners-up New York Knicks in their first playoff game.
On the other hand, Miami still has the opportunity to qualify, since it plays a decisive confrontation with the Chicago Bulls, who beat the Atlanta Hawks 131-116.
Cameroonian-born Embiid, recently naturalized and chosen to represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, alongside a group of ‘Dream Team’ stars, managed to score 23 points after missing the last game in the regular league due to the injury he suffered about two months ago, which prevented him from participating in a number of matches.
Embiid scored 13 points in the second half, including two of four three-pointers, and gave his team the lead with about two and a half minutes left.
The score changed twice before Embiid passed the ball to Kelly Oubre Jr., who scored two points and had a free throw and gave the Sixers the lead again with 36 seconds remaining.
Frenchman Nicolas Batum also scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half and made an important defensive interception on Tyler Herro with 26.2 seconds remaining.
Batum played a big role in making 6 of his team’s 12 three-pointers, and coach Nick Nurse credited him with his long throws for penetrating Miami’s defense, which tired them out in the first half.
He said: “He knew we had to attack, we had to penetrate the defense with some shots,” adding: “He found spaces and started shooting three-pointers.”
Chicago Bulls beat Atlanta Hawks 131-116 (AP)
In turn, fellow distributor Tyrese Maxey considered Batum “the star of the evening,” but Embiid remains the main player who can be counted on in the showdown with the Knicks.
Regarding Embiid, Nurse said: “I thought he competed, especially in the last few minutes. “I think it’s a good match to get back to his level.”
On the other hand, Miami player Jimmy Butler suffered a minor injury under the basket after colliding with Uber Junior, who fell on Butler’s right foot before the end of the first quarter.
The team will monitor the condition of its player, who finished the match and scored 19 points, but was limping in the final minutes.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said he had “no idea” if Butler would be able to play Friday against the Bulls.
Hair was Miami’s leading scorer with 25 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, and helped continue the contest throughout the game until the final breath.
Coby White scored 43 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for the Chicago Bulls in a blowout win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Fellow Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic added 24 points and 12 rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points for the Bulls, who finished the first quarter with 40 points and never looked back.
Dejounte Murray’s 30 points weren’t enough to avoid defeat, while teammate Trae Young also added 22 points.
After the 40 points in the first quarter, the Bulls finished the second quarter with 45 points to 33, before falling from 25 points to 37 then coming back in front (24 – 21).
“I’m very grateful for the progress,” White said after the game. “The work finally appears.”
He added: “We still have Friday’s game ahead of us. We must continue the path to qualify,” expecting the showdown in Miami to be a “street fight.”
The winner will play the first game of the playoffs against the Boston Celtics, who led the Eastern Conference with 64 victories.
Coach Spoelstra thought his team would be ready: “We’ll do it the hard way.” This is the path (to qualification) now.
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