The Mercury News

Sixers eliminate the Heat

- By The Associated Press

Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons shined again in front of rapper Meek Mill, and the dominant duo ushered the nightmares-into- dreams Process of the Philadelph­ia 76ers into the second round with a 104-91 win over the Miami Heat on Tues- day night.

The 76ers, winners of 10 games just two seasons ago, are in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2012. They await the winner of Milwaukee-Boston. The Celtics lead the series 3-2.

The Sixers won the series 4-1.

Embiid had 19 points and 12 rebounds, Simmons had 14 points and 10 boards, and the entire team had rappers, politician­s, actors and kids dancing along for the ride.

Mill made a dramatic return hours after Pennsylvan­ia’s highest court ordered him freed while he appeals decade-old gun and drug conviction­s. He was taken from prison by helicopter to Philadelph­ia, where he rang the ceremonial bell at the start of Game 5.

CELTICS 92, BUCKS 87 >> Al Horford had 22 points and 14 rebounds, Marcus Smart made an impact in his first game since mid-March and Boston took a 3-2 lead in its first-round playoff series.

Smart came off the bench and had nine points, five rebounds, four assists and three blocks in his first game since undergoing right thumb surgery. He played 25 minutes wearing a protective splint and had a key assist late from the bottom of a scrum beneath three Milwaukee players.

Terry Rozier added 16 points and five assists for Boston. The home team has won all five games in the first-round series, and Game 6 is Thursday in Milwaukee. CAVS’ HILL QUESTIONAB­LE >> Cleveland Cavaliers point guard George Hill is questionab­le for today’s crucial Game 5 against Indiana because of back spasms. Hill has been dealing with back problems since the series opener, when he was flattened by an illegal screen by Pacers forward Trevor Booker.

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