(Basketball news) The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Miami Heat 99-79 as they kept the series alive at 2-1. For the Sixers, Embiid inspired the 76ers with his return from a facial injury as he scored 18 points while Danny Green and Tyrese Maxey each scored 21 points. For the Heat, Tyler Herro had 14 and joined Jimmy Butler as the only Heat in double digits. Butler led the Heat with 33 points. With this result the 76ers are back in the series as the Miami Heat still lead the series 2-1, the next match is on 8th in Philadelphia.

''We have a good chance to win it all,'' Embiid said. ''We've got to stay healthy.''

''Any plan where you can have Joel as part of the plan is a much better plan,'' coach Doc Rivers said.

''You add Job to any team, home or away, the game, the scouting report, it changes drastically,'' Butler said. ''It's been like that for his entire career.''

''Even when he's not his normal self, he helps us a ton,'' Green said.

''I knew his presence would have an impact,'' Rivers said. ''I was positive of that.''

''It's about doing whatever possible to protect it as much as possible,'' Embiid said.

''This is what you have to expect,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ''He's an MVP-caliber player.''

The Dallas Mavericks also made a comeback against the number 1 seed in the West as they beat the Phoenix Suns 103-94. For the Mavericks, Luka Doncic had 26 points and 13 rebounds as Brunson led the scoring with 28 points, Bullock scored 15 and Finney-Smith scored 14, as both had four 3s apiece. For the Suns, Booker scored 18 but was just 2 of 7 inside the 3-point line, and Paul had 12 on just nine shots (five made) in the Suns' lowest-scoring game of the season. With this result the Mavericks have kept the series alive and will hope to tie the series on 8th May.

''It felt like all seven of 'em were back to back to back,'' said Paul, whose career high for a game in the playoffs is eight turnovers. ''If I don't turn the ball over like that I feel like it's a different game.''

''I found a way to bounce back tonight,'' Brunson said. ''I just can't be satisfied with this. Sunday's going to be another brutal game. I have to bring the same energy, the same intensity, the same everything.''

''When you see your best player doing that, it kind of sets a mood,'' Dorian Finney-Smith said.

''It wasn't like us,'' Booker said. ''You can credit them. They came out, played hard, played desperate. That's that. We've got a series.''

Also read: NBA: Heat's Tyler Herro wins 2021-22 NBA Sixth Man of the Year