Joel Embiid once again showcased his dominance, reminding everyone why the Philadelphia 76ers are always considered contenders for a deep postseason run as long as he’s on the court.
In a pivotal matchup, Embiid delivered a stellar performance, tallying 23 points and 15 rebounds. However, it was his crucial assist to Kelly Oubre Jr. for a go-ahead three-point play that sealed the 76ers’ 105-104 victory over the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament on Wednesday night.
With this win, the 76ers secured the No. 7 seed and advanced to face the second-seeded New York Knicks in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Game 1 of this exciting series is scheduled for Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
Meanwhile, the Heat, who remarkably reached the NBA Finals from the play-in tournament last year, now await the outcome of the late play-in game between the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. The winner of that contest will claim the No. 8 seed and face the Heat in the playoffs.