Jimmy Butler III made a step-back 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left, and the Philadelphia 76ers rallied from 20 points down in the second quarter to beat the Brooklyn Nets 127-125.
The 76ers trailed 66-46 with 1:22 left in the second quarter and 68-54 at halftime. They were still down 118-105 with 5:38 left in the fourth quarter, with a 2.2% chance to win, and outscored the Nets 22-7 the rest of the way.
The Nets had the ball down 2 with 0.4 seconds left, but Ben Simmons stole the ball from DeMarre Carroll, lifting the 76ers’ chance to win from 92% to over 99%. A basket would have tied the game.
During clutch time, the 76ers outscored the Nets 13-7. Butler scored 5 of the 76ers’ 13 on 2 for 2 shooting.
Butler had 34 points, 12 rebounds and 4 steals, and Joel Embiid added 32 points (20 in the paint) and 12 rebounds. Butler scored 18 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter. The 76ers had 2 30-point scorers.
For the Nets, D'Angelo Russell had 38 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, and Spencer Dinwiddie added 31 points on 11 for 15 shooting off the bench. The Nets had 2 30-point scorers.
The Nets forced 9 turnovers, about 5 fewer than usual for this many possessions. They outscored the 76ers 48-23 off the bench. The 76ers’ starters outscored the Nets 42-31 in 16 minutes together. Ed Davis fouled out.