NBA roundup: Sixers defeat Heat to book playoff date with Knicks as Bulls rout Hawks

The Philadelphia 76ers, led by Joel Embiid's 23 points, overcame a 13-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat the Miami Heat 105-104 on Wednesday. This victory secured their spot in the first-round playoff matchup against the New York Knicks.

Embiid, who is still working his way back to full strength following knee surgery, showcased his skills in the second half of the game. Despite Miami's strong performance in the play-in tournament, they still have a chance to make it to the playoffs.

Miami will face a crucial game against the Chicago Bulls on Friday, as the Bulls defeated the Atlanta Hawks 131-116 to stay in the competition.

In the game against Miami, Embiid scored 13 points in the second half, including a crucial three-pointer that gave the Sixers the lead with 2:33 left in the game. The lead changed hands a couple of times before Embiid assisted Kelly Oubre Jr. for a basket and a free throw that secured Philadelphia's victory with 36 seconds remaining.

Nicolas Batum, a key player off the bench for the Sixers, contributed 20 points, with 17 of them coming in the second half. His impressive performance, including six three-pointers, helped Philadelphia overcome Miami's zone defense.

Coach Nick Nurse praised Batum's shooting skills, emphasizing how crucial they were in breaking through Miami's defense. "He knew we needed some offense, needed to crack that zone with some perimeter shooting," Nurse said. "He found some areas to get to and he just kept pulling the trigger."

Teammate Tyrese Maxey praised Batum as "the standout player of the evening," but the success of the 76ers against the second-seeded Knicks will heavily rely on Embiid.

Their playoff series is set to commence on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Nurse commended Embiid's competitiveness, particularly in the latter stages of the game. He believes it was a valuable experience for Embiid, with high intensity and a significant amount of playing time.

The Miami Heat will closely monitor the condition of their star player, Jimmy Butler, who was affected by a collision under the basket with Oubre in the first quarter. Oubre fell on Butler's right leg, causing noticeable limping towards the end of the game.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned that Butler's knee stiffened up during the second half, but it remains uncertain if he will be able to play on Friday.

Herro was the leading scorer for the Heat, contributing 25 points, with 16 of them coming in the fourth quarter to maintain pressure on the opposition until the final moments.

The Bulls will face the Miami Heat with renewed energy following their impressive victory over the Hawks. Coby White had an outstanding performance, scoring a career-high 42 points, along with nine rebounds and six assists without a single turnover.

Nikola Vucevic added 24 points and 12 rebounds, while DeMar DeRozan contributed 22 points for the Bulls. They dominated the game, scoring 40 points in the first quarter and never relinquishing their lead.

Despite a strong effort from Dejounte Murray, who scored 30 points, and 22 points each from Trae Young and Clint Capela, the defeat against the Bulls ended the Hawks' hopes of advancing in the playoffs.

Although the Hawks managed to reduce an 18-point deficit to six at halftime by scoring 45 points in the second quarter, the Bulls reestablished their dominance in the second half, leading by as many as 23 points.

White, who is in the running for the Most Improved Player award due to securing a permanent starting position with the Bulls this season, made an impressive 15 out of 21 shots from the field.

Expressing his gratitude, White mentioned, "I am thankful for the progress I have made, the hard work that is finally paying off, and the opportunity provided to me by this organization."

Looking ahead to Friday's game in Miami, White emphasized the importance of pushing through for the playoff run, describing it as a "junkyard fight" with a first-round matchup against the top-seeded Boston Celtics at stake.

Coach Spoelstra assured that the Heat would be prepared for the challenge, stating, "We are prepared to take the difficult path to success. This is the way forward at this moment."