The Miami Heat defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 99-90 to go to the NBA Eastern Conference finals.
The Heat won the best-of-seven second-round series against the 76ers 4-2 with the win in Philadelphia.
The Sixers missed star centre Embiid due to torn ligaments in his right thumb and a facial fracture that neede mask, held pace early, trailing by only one basket at halftime, 49-48.
despite Danny Green's 1st-quarter exit due to a left knee injury. Green got to the locker room after Embiid accidently collided with him after rising for a score less than halfway through the 1st quarter.
The Heat, on the other hand, caught fire in the third quarter, with Butler scoring 14 points as Miami outscored the 76ers 25-15 to seize control of the game.
Butler, a former Sixer, had eight rebounds and four assists on the night. Miami's Max Strus had 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Heat double- and triple-teamed Embiid to hold the Sixers at bay.
Embiid had 20 points and 12 rebounds in the game. Embiid, hit just seven of 24 attempts from the field, former MVP James Harden couldn't fill the offensive void, ending with 11 points on four of nine.
Miami entered the conference finals for the second time in three seasons after Butler joined the team following the 2019 season, when the 76ers basically let him go in exchange for Ben Simmons.