Philadelphia – I admit I was being cocky. At halftime of the Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers play-in game, the Heat Up 12 were visiting, so I started sending them some mildly mocking texts. I don't think it was wrong to do so either. A season after Miami reached the NBA Finals as an 8 seed, nothing felt impossible, even if the team finished last in the Eastern Conference and made the playoffs again. After a slow start to Wednesday's game on Friday, the Heat took control, forcing Philadelphia to commit 11 turnovers and make 14-of-42 shots in the first half. Things were looking good for the most troublesome team in basketball, with a matchup against the New York Knicks looming.
Then it happened that Nicholas was fucking Batum.
I knew Batum, now 35, was still in the league, but I didn't really remember he was with the Sixers until I checked in, and I didn't realize he hit a 3-pointer in his first game. I didn't think much of it. half. Looking back, that was my mistake. The Heat could have succumbed to Joel Embiid's masterclass or Tyrese Maxey could have continued his dominance in Miami. If Tobias Harris had put together a game to beat Miami on Wednesday, at least I would have understood. (He didn't, but instead managed to miss five straight shots in a hilarious nine-second stretch. The Sixers crowd booed him harder than any Heat player.) Nicolas Batum?I wasn't mentally prepared for it.?
It all started in the third quarter, or the “bastard quarter” as Miami fans began to call the Heat's capitulation just after halftime, as usual. The Sixers managed to keep their lead from ballooning over the first four-plus minutes of the third set, and Batum hit his second 3 of the game to cut the lead to single digits with 6:38 left in the quarter. 59-51. That this happened right after Caleb Martin missed two free throws in a row and got the crowd free chicken à la Boban helped the already excited crowd reach a new level. (The crowd was extremely loud throughout, first audibly complaining about the Philadelphia performance, then cheering when the Sixers returned.) That said, this was going to be a big night. That was the first moment I felt it.
A quick 5-0 run by Buddy Hield followed a three-run run by Batum, after which both teams traded a few buckets, which in retrospect was the key shot of the game. Batum scored again with 4 1/2 minutes left in the third set, with the Heat holding a 61-56 lead. Maxey dribbled into the paint and, crucially, drew a triple team, including Tyler Herro, who came in from the wing and tried to stop Maxey from the hoop. That left Batum wide open in the corner, but Maxey easily found him. Batum made no mistake about this opportunity. Because this was a Nicolas Batum match and that's exactly what was going to happen.
The Heat were able to maintain a five-point lead going into the fourth inning (even though Batum hit another three with over a minute left to put the Sixers back within two), but the crowd was sold out. When they came back, the Sixers smelled blood. Kelly Oubre Jr. led off the fourth with a quick layup, and Embiid hit a tying 3-pointer. What was once a comfortable night in enemy territory, with him leading by 13 points, quickly turned into a nightmare. So who else besides Batum gave the Sixers their first lead since the first quarter? With the score tied at 76 and less than nine minutes remaining, Batum hit his fifth 3-pointer of the night. After making two free throws for Herro, Batum did it again, extending the Sixers' lead to 82-78 and sending everyone around me into a daze, except for a few Heat fans in attendance. Made me fall.
Additionally, the Frenchman tipped in with just over four minutes left to keep Philadelphia in the lead after Miami took an 89-86 lead. Oh, and he did it on the other side too, blocking a late Tyler Herro 3-pointer and turning the final 30 seconds into a parade of free throws that ultimately gave the Sixers a 105-104 victory. .
I know Batum didn't win the match alone. Embiid overcame a pretty bad first three quarters and scored 11 points in the fourth. Oubre Jr. made nine of his own in the final frame, but his biggest contribution may have been landing awkwardly on Jimmy Butler's lap early on. Things didn't change for Jimmy in the playoffs, and he finished with only 19 points.he There may be an MCL injury That could keep him out for a significant amount of time. Herro, on the other hand, was an abysmal 9-of-27 while trying to pick up the slack from Butler, and Bam Adebayo struggled with early foul trouble and his usual passivity, hitting 9-for-9 with zero free throws. He ended up scoring just 10 points. There were many reasons why Miami fell apart after a comfortable start.
But I'll never forget this play-in game with Nicolas Batum. Especially someone who I barely remember as a factor. of I will consider it personally. Every time an awkward shot skimmed the net, my good time became just a little less fun. Do you regret sending a text to your Sixers fan friend mocking him by quoting the song “10-9-8-76ers''? Well, there was a little bit, but the people in the room also watched the TV. No one watching could have predicted that Philadelphia would come roaring back on Batum's wings. I don't think Batum himself expected that, but he deserves credit where credit is due. He was ready for the biggest shot and the game-clinching block. Philadelphia advanced to the first round against the Knicks thanks to Klay Thompson, a veteran role player turned half-prime. And Miami must win one more do-or-die play-in game to earn the right to face the nuke. It's the Boston Celtics. And all of that was possible without Jimmy Butler. Things looked very different at half-time, but when the game against Nicolas Batum arrives, all bets are off.
