sport news Joel Embiid stars with 23-point double-double as the 76ers silence halftime ... trends now
Joel Embiid spearheaded the Philadelphia 76ers in a one-point win over the Miami Heat in Wednesday's Play-In game.
The reigning NBA MVP had 23 points and 15 rebounds to lead the 76ers to a 105-104 win. Additionally, Embiid made an all-important assist to Kelly Oubre Jr. on a go-ahead three-point play that sealed the victory.
Despite Embiid's noteworthy performance, the win was nothing short of a team effort as Nicolas Batum and Buddy Hield chipped in for Philly. Batum, who was acquired in the James Harden trade, showed his heroics by quadrupling his season average (5.3) and clocking in 20 points on the evening.
'Lots of booing,' Embiid said, smiling. '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.'
The 76ers earned the No. 7 seed and advanced to play the second-seeded New York Knicks in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Game 1 is Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
Joel Embiid recorded 23 points and 15 rebounds to lead the 76ers past the Heat, 105-104
Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler scored 19 points with five assists in his team's losing effort
Nicolas Batum exploded with 20 points after averaging under six points-per-game this season
The Heat - who went from the play-in tourney to the NBA Finals a year ago - will host the Chicago Bulls on Friday night, with the winner getting the No. 8 seed.
Embiid exploded out of a quiet game late in the fourth and carried the Sixers back from 14 down in the second half. Embiid, who missed 43 games this season and finished out on a surgically repaired left knee, was a non-factor as Batum and Hield sparked the 76ers in the second half. Batum had 20 points.
'We won the game because of them,' Embiid said. 'Those guys stepped up and we won the game.'
But when the Sixers needed big buckets, who else was there but their big man?
Embiid buried a go-ahead 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 2;33 left in the game for a 93-91 lead that sent a crowd - that had about booed the Sixers out of the building at the half - into a frenzy. After the Sixers blew that lead, Embiid again was clutch with a three-point play for a 96-94 lead.
With the game tied 96-all, Miami's Tyler Herro was whistled for a backcourt violation. Embiid slipped the ball to Oubre under the basket for the bucket, the free throw and a 99-96 lead they would not give up.
The 76ers played this one like it was Game 7 - and with good reason.
