After the demonstration of Game 3, the Sixers had the opportunity tonight to come back up to the Heat in the series. Carried by his duo James Harden – Joel Embiid, Philadelphia wins 116-108 and keeps all its chances before the next round in South Beach.
For the house stats of this match, it is here that it is necessary to click.
The beating inflicted in the last game had left one question unanswered: Did Philly step-up in the series or did Miami have a night without? See you at the Wells Fargo Center for this Game 4 to get the answer. The start of the match is rather balanced. If James Harden winces with two faults in the first quarter and three lost balls, Joel Embiid does his job. The pivot had been disappointed with his performance for his return to the game and he had promised to do better tonight. With 15 points from the first act, Jojo proves that he is a man of his word. Opposite, Miami responds with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo but also Victor Oladipo and the two teams play eye to eye. We have to wait for the second quarter to see a first real gap via the awakening of James Harden. The beard had slammed a zero point early in the game and he pulls out the match at the right time to drive the Heat. Caviar passes, step-back on the head of Jimmy Butler, aggressive to get his points on the line, we start on a Houston version of “Ramesse » . If the former Toyota Center arsonist gives serious pleasure, Jimmy Butler is not to be outdone: parking bomb, and one, Mister Buckets even allows himself to go and teach Embiid a lesson in the racket and he brings Miami back into the match on its own. The guy is possessed but a bit isolated and this allows Philly to keep a small mattress in advance at the break. (64-56)
The return from the locker room leaves us in the same mood. Tyrese Maxey starts off on the floor, the Sixers take off once more and then Jimmy Butler takes back his cap as an unplayable savior. Kyle Lowry clenching his teeth with a sore thigh, Bam Adebayo out because of two new fouls on Embiid, the Heat winger is forced to multiply to keep Miami alive. Scoring the balls thoroughly, impeccable defense on James Harden then Tyrese Maxey, difficult to say anything bad regarding the Florida number 22. Thanks to him, Erik Spoelstra’s squad managed to come back to within four small lengths before attacking the money time. South Beach has a slow game but everything remains open for the win. It is then that the one who will become the hero of the match returns: James Harden. Accustomed to disappearing in the second half since the start of the series, the Bearded man will give the best response to criticism. Indecent in the money time, Harden makes the total at the Heat and carries all of Philadelphia on his shoulders. He calms the comeback of the Butler-Adebayo duo all by himself and it is still him who gives the last dagger stroke with a final step-back 3 (a classic) to kill the game one minute from time. A capital performance for Joel Embiid’s sidekick and a precious victory for Philly before returning to South Beach.
Well helped by a James Harden at the top and a Joel Embiid who finds his feelings, the Sixers snatch Game 4 and return to equality in the series once morest Miami. Next meeting: on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, in South Beach, for a Game 5 which will be very expensive.
