UNC Basketball: Danny Green’s big night leads 76ers to playoff win

Former UNC basketball standout Danny Green put together a strong performance to help lead the 76ers to a much-needed playoff victory over Miami.

Trailing 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Philadelphia 76ers faced a must-win Game 3 against the Miami Heat.

With their backs essentially against the wall, it was a former UNC basketball standout who rose to the occasion.

In arguably his best playoff performance of his career, Danny Green was lethal from beyond the arc, as he tied a personal best mark of seven made three-pointers in a single game. The former Tar Heel finished with a team-high 21 points en route to helping the 76ers take home a decisive 20-point victory at home.

Over the first two games of the series, Green’s offensive production was limited. The former Tar Heel scored just eight points combined while making just three of his 16 shot attempts. This lack of production from Green hurt the 76ers, especially with star player Joel Embiid sidelined due to injury.

After Friday night’s victory, the 76ers are right back into the series. Even though they dropped the first two games, this group has a few reasons to be optimistic about the rest of the series.

For starters, Embiid returned to the lineup, which is a huge difference-maker for the 76ers. To add to that, Philadelphia was able to get past a rather disappointing performance from James Harden, who had more turnovers (seven) than shots made (four).

If guys like Green can continue to contribute the way they did in Game 3, it isn’t a stretch to say that the 76ers could not only tie up this series, but find a way to ultimately win it as well.

Follow us @KeepingItHeel on Twitter and like our fan page on Facebook for continued coverage of UNC basketball news, views, and recruiting updates.