This weekend, Joel Embiid, not Playoff Jimmy, will make his way to New York as the 76ers gear up to face the Knicks in the playoffs. This showdown marks the first playoff series between the two teams since 1989. The 76ers clinched their spot after staging an impressive comeback from a 14-point deficit to snatch a 105-104 victory over Butler and the Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in round.
Embiid’s performance was particularly notable, as he notched 23 points and snagged 15 rebounds despite concerns about a knee injury that had kept him sidelined for over two months earlier in the season. While Butler and the Heat still have a shot at advancing as the eighth seed, they’ll need to best the winner of Wednesday’s game between the Hawks and the Bulls. Butler wrapped up the game with 19 points, while Tyler Herro led the Heat with 25 points in a game where they were missing key player Terry Rozier due to a neck injury.
Knicks to face 76ers in first round of NBA playoffs after Philly’s dramatic play-in win https://t.co/jy6uaZHYkg pic.twitter.com/N0VKWoNMR5
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) April 18, 2024
As for the Knicks, they clinched the second seed in the playoffs after an impressive regular season where they won 50 games. They also took the season series against the Sixers, winning three out of four games. However, it’s worth noting that Embiid only played in one of those matchups, where he scored an impressive 30 points despite the Knicks ultimately sealing a decisive 36-point victory back in January.
