The Miami Heat became the first team to book a ticket to the Conference Finals. In Game 6 of the Philadelphia 76ers, the Heat won 99-90 for a strong Jimmy Butler thanks to a dominant second half.
Miami is in the conference final for the sixth time under head coach Erik Spoelstra, and for the second time with Jimmy Butler as the franchise star. The striker scored 14 of his 32 points (13/29 FG, 8 rebounds) in the third quarter as the Heat were able to break decisively away (25:15). In addition to Butler, Bam Adebayo (10, 5/5, 8 rebounds) and Max Strus (20, 6/13, 11 boards) were convincing, PJ Tucker (12, 6/9, 9 rebounds) showed a good second 24 minutes.
After a decent first half, the Sixers did not do much together. James Harden (11, 4/9, 9 assists, 4 TO) took only two shots in the second half and did not get a point, Joel Embiid (20, 7/24, 12 rebounds) looked completely exhausted and was hit by the heat defense worn down during the game. Tyrese Maxey (20, 9/24) and backup guard Shake Milton (15, 6/8) were the most likely to defend themselves against the impending elimination.
The match started with a shock for the hosts, da Embiid fell on Danny Green’s legs after three minutes. The attacker could only leave the field with the help of the supervisors, it is probably a serious knee injury. The failure particularly affected the Sixers’ space, as Matisse Thybulle now took his place. For Heat, on the other hand, Strus sprayed danger from the outside, the guard, like Butler, had 9 points after twelve minutes. The Sixers originally remained tuned (25:28).
This was mainly due to Embiid, who now drove everything, but who also looked tired in the middle of the second episode. After a few minutes Her (r) o Ball, the guests also got hold of themselves, there were clips and open threes. From a Sixers point of view, it was positive that Harden’s three fell and “The Beard” could relieve a bit. Miami still led 49-48 into the break.
Jimmy Butler takes on the Miami Heat in the third quarter
After that, however, the cases swam away from the Sixers. Miami’s defense was amazing especially Bam Adebayo vs Embiid, Butler took over at the other end and gave the Heat their first double-digit lead of the evening. Philly scored just 4 points over seven minutes, Miami made 19. Milton gave the hosts a small push with 7 points in a row, so Philly still had a small chance before the final section – 74:63 Miami.
The hosts just did not really seem to believe it anymore. Turnovers, airballs, weak body language – in the hall most had already given in to fate, seven minutes before the end, when Miami had extended the lead to 17 points, the first fans left their seats.They should not miss much more, Heat played with more passion, a better system and won deservedly. “Let’s Go Heat” was shouted at, and the Sixers players were bubbling with the remaining fans.
Miami is now awaiting their opponent in the series between the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks, with the Bucks leading 3-2. The Heat expect the winner of the duel on Wednesday night (2.30 in the morning) for match 1 in the conference final.
The most important statistic
Philadelphia 76ers (4) – Miami Heat (1) 90:99 (BOXSCORE), Series: 2-4
- As in the other two games, the Heat had major issues from Downtown. Strus hit three threes in the first half, but the rest of the team netted only one out of ten attempts. It did not get better after that as Miami scored only 25 percent (7/28) over the match, but the visitors scored 62 of their 99 points in the zone.
- Miami’s third quarter was largely a demonstration of their strength in defense. The Sixers barely got an easy throw and therefore shot only 27 percent (6/22) from the field. There were also 5 turnovers, which Miami converted to 7 points, and 3 offensive rebounds, 2 from PJ Tucker, who duped Harden for easy rebound points on each.
- Perhaps the most important statistic of the game, a team with James Harden and Joel Embiid took just 7 free throws in 48 minutes. The Harden did not even go to the line, it never happened when the bearded man was on the field for at least 40 minutes. After all, Embiid pulled two shooting offenses, but that is of course also well below his average.
- Embiid is still waiting for his first participation in the Conference Finals. Although the Sixers reached the playoffs for the fifth time in a row, it was the end of the second round for the fourth time. Philadelphia last reached the quarterfinals 21 years ago, in 2001 Allen Iverson even led the Sixers to the finals, but “The Answer” and Co. lost there to the Lakers 1-4.
Sixers vs. Heat: The Voice of the Game
Doc Rivers (Head Coach Sixers): “I’m not going to make a referendum out of this now because of James. We win as a team and we lose as a team. (…) I came to the conclusion that our team just was not “Good enough to beat this Heat team. We will build on that and not tear this team down.”
Erik Spoelstra (Head Coach): “There is no one in this league who wants to win more than Jimmy. He would not let us fly back to Miami for a seventh game.”
James Harden (Sixers) in his second half: “We ran our offensive and then I just could not get the ball anymore.”
Game star: Max Strus
The guard is symbolic of the difference between the two teams. The Heat just had more options in this series, more reliable role players, and Strus has been exactly that in the last few games. Dangerous from distance (4/9 three points), plus a more than respectable defender. In addition, this time he not only threw on the basket, but also let the ball run. As a reward, there was a career high (regular and post-season) with 5 assists. Also excellent: Jimmy Butler, who took over the game in the usual way in the third quarter.
Game flop: James Harden
Where was he when the Sixers didn’t get together anymore? The 2018 MVP only took one shot in the third quarter after his three-pointers dropped so well in the first half. After that, nothing worked at all with the guard. No movement, ball loss, not a single free throw. It was another exclusion game for Harden, where he was almost invisible. This dribbling against three Heat players was exemplary for his performance in the second halfwhich did not fall into good soil at all with Sixers fans.
Game scene
Early in the second half, buos erupted at Wells Fargo Center as Miami took the night’s first double-digit lead. It got quiet, especially when Butler fouled Embiid and hit the throw with a foul as he fell back over the middle. Shortly before, Maxey had not been able to finish during the fast break, instead, Butler struck such an impossible shot on the other side. demoralizing.
NBA Playoffs: Sixers vs. Heat – Series overview
| Game | date | time | home | gone | result |
| 1 | May 3 | 1:30 | Miami heat | Philadelphia 76ers | 106: 92 |
| 2 | May 5 | 1:30 | Miami heat | Philadelphia 76ers | 119: 103 |
| 3 | May 7 | 1 o’clock | Philadelphia 76ers | Miami heat | 99:79 |
| 4 | May 9 | 2 o’clock | Philadelphia 76ers | Miami heat | 116: 108 |
| 5 | May 11 | 1:30 | Miami heat | Philadelphia 76ers | 120: 85 |
| 6 | May 13 | 1 o’clock | Philadelphia 76ers | Miami heat | 90:99 |
| Game | date | time | home | gone | result |
| 1 | May 3 | 1:30 | Miami heat | Philadelphia 76ers | 106: 92 |
| 2 | May 5 | 1:30 | Miami heat | Philadelphia 76ers | 119: 103 |
| 3 | May 7 | 1 o’clock | Philadelphia 76ers | Miami heat | 99:79 |
| 4 | May 9 | 2 o’clock | Philadelphia 76ers | Miami heat | 116: 108 |
| 5 | May 11 | 1:30 | Miami heat | Philadelphia 76ers | 120: 85 |
| 6 | May 13 | 1 o’clock | Philadelphia 76ers | Miami heat | 90:99 |