While the Miami Heat still need help from the Atlanta Hawks in the form of another loss from them, in order to move up in the NBA Playoff seeding and secure a home-court series in the first-round, you can’t say that they aren’t trying. After drubbing the Boston Celtics twice over the past few days, starting on Sunday, they did the same to the 76ers on Thursday but arguably worse.
Coming out with a mindset that seemed determined to send a message, the Miami Heat, pretty much, jumped all over the Philadelphia 76ers. The final score for the first period was 38-22 in favor of Miami, with them winning the second and third and before losing the fourth, but by then it was entirely too late for the 76ers.
As tempers flared, the Miami Heat handled their business against Philly and impressively, 106-94.
The game would finish 106-94, for the Miami Heat, of course. In the process, there were several good performances, but one of the most notable was Jimmy Butler‘s outside shooting in this one.
From the very top of the game, he looked focused and ready to deliver. He would finish the game with 21 points, five rebounds, and four assists on 6-10 from the field and get this… 4-4 from the three point line.
It’s pretty simple and worth being direct. If he can, somehow, consistently find that kind of ability from deep heading into the postseason, it’ll be a long night for any opposing team and then the Heat’s limit is truly beyond the sky.
That’s only truth. He wasn’t the only one hot on Thursday though, although, the others weren’t quite hot in that fashion.
Both Udonis Haslem and Trevor Ariza got kind of fired up at different points throughout the game. Though, both of them were justifiable in their anger.
UD felt as though Philadelphia big man, Dwight Howard, had thrown him to the ground, which he did, while Trevor Ariza felt as if he was the victim of foul play. While Ariza might have a case or not, Embiid certainly didn’t try to get out of the way as he was falling either.
It’s a sticky situation to judge, but they had rights to be upset. All’s well that ends well though and that it did on Thursday night for the Miami Heat.
Home-court advantage in the playoffs is still at play. So, hopefully, the Hawks drop one of their final two.