NBA play-in: 76ers overcome sluggish 1st half, rally past Heat to set up first-round matchup with Knicks

De’Aaron Fox

For a half on Wednesday, the Miami Heat’s zone defense flustered the Philadelphia 76ers and prompted boos from the home crowd at Wells Fargo Center. Then a hot run from 3 and a free chicken promotion sparked the 76ers and their fans as Philadelphia rallied from a 14-point deficit to a 105-104 win over the Heat in the NBA play-in tournament.

With the win, the 76ers advance as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs to face the No. 2 seed New York Knicks in the first round. The loss puts the Heat in Friday’s play-in elimination game against the Chicago Bulls, who beat the Atlanta Hawks in their play-in tournament game. The winner will earn the No. 8 seed. The loser’s season will be over.

De’Aaron Fox Jimmy Butler reportedly injured

The Heat could be short-handed for that game. Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Jimmy Butler is feared to have suffered an MCL injury in the first half of Wednesday’s game. He’ll have an MRI to determine the nature of the injury, per the report. Butler appeared to injure his knee during a fall in the first quarter. He got up limping and played the rest of the game. He li
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