Jimmy Butler and the Heat beat the Knicks, 4-2, in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals on their way to the NBA Finals, but could not do enough to get a rematch.
Butler injured his right knee in the first half against the Sixers but kept playing and finished with 19 points while Tyler Herro led with 25.
Instead, Miami on Friday will face the winner of the 9-10 game between the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks.
The Knicks and Sixers last met in the first round in 1989 when the Sixers swept in three games.
Philadelphia leads New York, 21-12, all-time in the playoffs.
The series will mark a homecoming of sorts for the Villanova trio of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo.
“Hell yeah [it would be cool],” DiVincenzo told the NY Post. “Family is right there. So obviously we [myself, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart] went to school in Philly. So whoever we play. But if it’s Philly, it will be fun.”
The Sixers and Knicks will meet in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 1989.
Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid went for 23 points and 15 rebounds and Nicolas Batum scored 20 as Philadelphia came back from a 13-point second-half deficit and earned the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference by virtue of beating Miami, 105-104, in the 7-8 Play-In Game at Wells Fargo Center.
Tyrese Maxey added 19 points for the Sixers, who hit their foul shots down the stretch to ice the win.
Game 1 between the No. 2 Knicks and Sixers is set for Saturday at Madison Square Garden (6 p.m., ESPN), with Game 2 on Monday at the Garden.
Games 3 and 4 will be in Philadelphia April 25 and 28.
Sixers Guard Kyle Lowry vs Miami Heat - April 17th 2024
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