Next stop for Heat is Eastern Conference final

It’s on to the Eastern Conference final for the Heat after Miami defeated Philadelphia 99-90 Thursday.

Miami won the series 4-2 and now awaits the winner of the Milwaukee-Boston series. The defending NBA champion Bucks lead that series 3-2 and can close it out with a win on Friday.

The Heat led by 1 point at halftime at Philly but a big third period gave Miami a 10-point lead heading into the final quarter.

Jimmy Butler scored 32 points to lead the Heat.

“Now I’m where I belong,” Butler said. “Guess where I should have been a long time ago.”

– Joe Henderson, Extensive Enterprises Media