The Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat squared off in an intra-conference matchup. Miami was entering today on a three-game winning streak, and the 76ers were coming off an incredible overtime win against the Milwaukee Bucks, led by the 54-point performance from Tyrese Maxey.
Heat Outlast 76ers
Miami was in control for most of the game, and the only really close point came at the end of the second quarter, where the Philadelphia 76ers went on a 14-0 run to tie the game. The Heat took advantage of VJ Edgecombe’s absence, playing at a faster pace and scoring 26 fast-break points to the Sixers’ 15. In what was a 10-point game, the fast-break points ended up being one of the deciding factors in this game.
Normal Powell led the way with 32 points, followed by Kel’el Ware, who had 20 points and 16 rebounds. Ware has been fantastic to start the season and is currently averaging a double-double in 16 games. Without Tyler Herro, the Heat are off to a great start this season and are currently the three seed in the Eastern Conference. The Heat will return home on Monday to take on Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks.
76ers Fall Short In The Second Half
The Sixers made it a close game in the second quarter, but once again, their third-quarter struggles made it hard for them to win. They had all of the momentum going into halftime, but were unable to make the right adjustments in the second half. It was a tough day in the field for the entire starting lineup, which put them behind in this game almost immediately.
Paul George shot 30% from the field today, scoring just 10 points, which was the second-fewest among all five starters. Quentin Grimes also had a tough day, shooting 6-14 from the field and two of seven from three-point range. The shot selection at the end of the game was once again questionable. The Sixers seem to rush themselves, not taking time to draw up an actual play, and instead will just chuck up a quick shot, hoping it falls.
The 76ers must fight for wins in the coming games. VJ Edgecombe should return Tuesday against the Magic, while Oubre, Bona, and Embiid are likely out for a few more games. Tyrese Maxey will try to carry the team as others recover. The Magic game is crucial as the Sixers seek to escape their 0-2 hole in the NBA Cup.
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