Greg Cote: Jimmy Butler and defense rise again as Heat eliminate 76ers, advance to Eastern finals

Published by
Miami Herald

The Philadelphia 76ers were desperate and home Thursday night, must-win in the literal sense, the great James Harden in hero mode and wounded superstar Joel Embiid in a black mask. He’d said “What do I have to do?” this week when passed over, again, for the NBA’s MVP award. The shortest answer might be: Lead Philly to a championship. The Miami Heat said no. Miami took Game 6 on the road and did it with force, 99-90, for a 4-2 triumph in this Eastern Conference semifinal series, and the Heat now await the survivor of the Milwaukee-Boston series in the next round. Credit Sixers coach Doc Rivers …

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