There is no doubt the Miami Heat were looking for a bounce back result and use home court to their advantage after two disappointing losses in Philadelphia. On Tuesday night, the Heat bounced back in convincing fashion. Small forward Jimmy Butler of Houston, Texas led Miami with 23 points in a 120-85 win over Philadelphia in game five of the Eastern Conference semifinal. With the win, the Heat took a three games to two lead in their best out of seven series.
Butler was one of seven Heat players to reach double digits in scoring. Others were small forward Max Strus of Hickory Hills, Illinois (19 points), point guard Gabe Vincent of Modesto, California (15 points), guard Victor Oladipo of Silver Spring, Maryland (13 points), center Bam Adebayo of Newark, New Jersey (12 points), and power forward P.J. Tucker of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Tyler Herro of Greenfield, Wisconsin (10 points each).
All five starters recorded double digits in scoring, while Herro and Oladipo had their combined 23 points coming off the bench. Remember, Herro was named the NBA 6th Man of the Year Award winner on May 3. Strus meanwhile had his first postseason double-double of his career, as he added 10 rebounds. In fact it was the first double-double of Strus’s NBA career (regular season or playoffs).
A major reason for the game five Miami win was their first quarter play. There they outscored Philadelphia 31-19.
Meanwhile, game five was horrendous for Embiid. He was a -29, the worst plus/minus of his NBA postseason career according to ESPN. James Harden was also an awful -29. The Heat can now wrap up their series on Thursday with a game six match in Philadelphia.
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