Saturday, May 7, 2022. 2:35 PM
PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid wasn’t as productive as usual on Friday, but the Sixers center was still back in action.
With Philadelphia having lost the first two games to Miami, Embiid, the regular-season scoring champion, played despite a broken face, a recent concussion and a thumb where he will need surgery.
His mere presence on the pitch had an effect; moreover, the 99-79 win could change the turn of this second-round series in the East.
“I knew I had to do everything to participate, no matter how I felt,” said the Cameroonian.
Embiid booted the defense and created space for Tyrese Maxey and Danny Green, who both had 21 points. Embiid was playing with a mask, the result of a fractured right eye socket.
During breaks in the action on Friday, he constantly lifted it to wipe sweat from his face. His evening ended with 18 points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes.
“I didn’t have a lot of energy,” he admitted. I was just trying to get through. To use my presence to muddy the waters, if you will. »
The Heat made just seven of 30 three-pointers. Only Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro had 10 or more points, with 33 and 14.
“We weren’t good in the back, we gave away the ball a few times and we weren’t disciplined,” Butler said. He (Embiid) is a big piece, but that’s not the main reason for our defeat. »
The 76ers are trying to get past the second round for the first time since 2001.
It was the first time since 2012 that a playoff team scored less than 80 points. The Heat only had 14 points in the final quarter.
Kyle Lowry returned to action after a four-game absence with a left thigh injury. He was 0 for 4 and did not score a point in 25 minutes.
“I didn’t expect to be fabulous,” said the veteran. I also didn’t expect to get zero points. »
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