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NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Miami Warmth grew to become the primary eighth seed in almost 1 / 4 century to succeed in the convention finals on Friday, downing the New York Knicks 96-92 in Sport 6 of their collection to advance.
Six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler put up 24 factors with eight rebounds and 4 assists to steer the Warmth previous a Knicks workforce that was determined to remain alive in entrance of a raucous Miami crowd.
They may subsequent meet both the Philadelphia 76ers or Boston Celtics, who eradicated them within the convention finals a 12 months in the past. The Sixers head as much as Boston for Sport 7 on Sunday.
“We have been in video games like this all 12 months lengthy, we’re ready for it,” Butler mentioned in a televised interview. “We have some actually good gamers on this workforce.”
It was bitter disappointment for the Knicks, who rolled over Cleveland Cavaliers within the opening spherical – their first NBA playoff collection win in a decade – and almost closed the hole with seconds left on the clock.
The Warmth, who dominated first seeded Milwaukee Bucks of their opening spherical, are solely the second eighth seed to succeed in the convention finals after the Knicks, who did it in 1999.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Enhancing by William Mallard)