Butler: Heat must 'play basketball the right way' vs. Sixers / News - Basketnews.com

The Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers will meet in the play-in game for the 7th seed in the East.

Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix Credit Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix

The Miami Heat beat the Toronto Raptors, 118-103, to secure the 8th spot and set up a clash against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Play-In Tournament.

Jimmy Butler

MIN:34.04PTS:20.77 (63.1%)REB:5.3As:4.97ST:1.3BL:0.28TO:1.7GM:60ProfileNBA2023/2024

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after their win that they are "looking forward" to the matchup in Philly.

"It'll be a great environment. Philly has been playing fantastic recently so we know what to expect up there. And that is what we say it's for competitors only, and it should be a lot of fun," said Spoelstra.

"This is the best time of the year. These kinds of environments, the games, the context, all of that. You can't expect it to be easy, no matter what the scenario would be."

Though the Heat are embracing the challenge, Heat star Jimmy Butler knows that they have to bring their A-game on the road.

Jimmy ButlerCredit Scanpix

"[We] just gotta go out there and compete, play basketball the right way, and do something very difficult, and it's to win on Philly's floor," Butler said.

"This is the time of the year when you're going to have to do that anyway if you want to win a championship. Obviously, we have to do it if we want to get to [the 7th seed.]"

Butler is averaging 20.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game this season for the Heat, who finished the regular season with a 46-36 record.

Thank you for reading us! Help us even more.