When the 76ers traded James Harden, they lost a lot of scoring. They got it back from Nicolas Batum on Wednesday.
ANOTHER BATUM 3-POINTER ‼️
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
Nic Batum hits his 6th-pointer on ESPN to extend Philly's lead! pic.twitter.com/8CYiOylY1C
Batum, who came over from the Los Angeles Clippers in the James Harden trade, scored 20 points off the bench and drained six three-pointers in the 76ers' 105-104 win over the Miami Heat in the play-in game.
The 15-year veteran is expected to retire after the Olympics in his native France this summer, but he played like a much younger man Wednesday.
It wasn't just his outside shooting, either. Batum scored on an amazing tip-in to get the Sixers within a point late, moving much faster than a 35-year-old had any right to.
WHAT A TIP-IN BY BATUM
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
Miami leads Philly by 1 in the 4th quarter on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/XA3oCxiJLy
Down the stretch, Batum did it with defense. First, he forced Miami's Tyler Herro into a backcourt violation with 55 seconds to go. Then, after Kelly Oubre Jr. took the lead with a three-point play, Batum blocked Herro's three-point attempt on Miami's next possession.
Blocked by Batum in the CLUTCH
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
MIA-PHI on ESPN... winner secures the #7 seed in the East! pic.twitter.com/B4Z642rLCB
Harden did Batum one better, hitting seven threes in two different playoff games last year. But no one would ever accuse The Beard of playing clutch defense.
None of the other three players from the Harden trade saw action in Philly's play-in game, but Batum did the work of four players. He's also guaranteed that his NBA career will last at least one more playoff series.
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