76ers' Joel Embiid, Batum Hyped by NBA Fans for 4Q Takeover in Play-In Win vs. Heat

Joel Embiid posted a 23-point, 15-rebound double-double and Nicolas Batum added 20 points (six three-pointers) off the bench to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 105-104 comeback win over the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.

The 76ers trailed by as many as 14 points in a first half where they committed 11 turnovers and trailed 51-39 going into the break.

However, Philadelphia's offense came to life in the second half thanks largely to Embiid and Batum.

Batum scored 14 second-half points, while Embiid had 11 in the fourth quarter alone to help put this game away.

Both players produced huge moments down the stretch.

Batum's putback layup closed the Heat's lead to 89-88 with 4:12 left.

That set off a sequence where no one but Heat guard Tyler Herro or Embiid scored for the next two-and-half minutes.

Embiid answered a Herro two-pointer with a personal 5-0 run capped off by his three to provide Philly with a 93-91 edge. After Herro hit another three in response, Embiid fired back with a three-point play to put Philly up two with 1:47 left.

A Haywood Highsmith bucket then tied the game. Both teams then went scoreless until Embiid found Oubre down low for another three-point play, giving Philadelphia a 99-96 lead with 36 seconds remaining.

Batum then came up with the game's biggest play, blocking a Herro three-point attempt to give Philadelphia the ball back.

The 76ers made all six of their free throws down the stretch to keep the Heat at bay. Herro made a three with three-tenths of a second left to cut the lead to 105-104, but Philadelphia's quick inbounds put the clock at zero.

Fans and analysts alike were understandably impressed with Embiid and Batum, who salvaged the team's brutal first-half performance with a great second-half outing en route to a playoff berth.

The 76ers will now advance to the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, where they'll face the No. 2 seed and host New York Knicks beginning Saturday in Madison Square Garden.

The Heat will need to win Friday at home against either the Chicago Bulls or Atlanta Hawks to clinch the East's No. 8 seed, which would mean a first-round date against the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics.