The Sixers tripped just before the finish line Monday night in Miami.
Seeking their fifth win in six games, the Sixers allowed a late Heat run and fell to a 119-109 loss.
Miam’s victory secured the regular-season series over the Sixers. The Heat now sit at 40-36, the Sixers at 41-34. With a win over the Celtics, the sixth-seeded Hawks extended their lead over the seventh-seeded Sixers in the Eastern Conference standings.
Joel Embiid had 26 points and seven rebounds. Tyrese Maxey posted 23 points, nine assists and seven boards. Paul George added 19 points.
Miami’s top scorer was Tyler Herro with 30 points. Bam Adebayo had 23 points, 16 rebounds and six assists.
All-Star Heat guard Norman Powell was out with an illness. For the second straight game, Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery) was the one Sixer sidelined.
The Sixers will visit the Wizards on Wednesday night. Here are observations on their loss to Miami:
George picks up where he left off
The Embiid-George duo posted 14 of the Sixers’ first 16 points.
Embiid scored a post-up bucket on Adebayo, a mid-range leaner, and a top-of-the-key three-pointer. George’s early highlights included a driving dunk, a three-ball and a long-range alley-oop feed that VJ Edgecombe leaped high to slam home. Edgecombe also had a stellar first quarter, recording nine points on 4-for-6 shooting and four assists.
While George eventually cooled off, his play has been encouraging overall since he came back from his 25-game suspension. Here are his numbers over the last three games:
24.3 points per game
45.8 percent from the field
40 percent from three-point range
7.7 rebounds per game
2.7 assists per game
3.0 steals per game
He’s been a confident, high-volume three-point shooter, which the Sixers need. The 35-year-old has also looked fresh physically and even downright explosive on occasion. Having that sort of player in the playoffs would certainly brighten the Sixers’ postseason outlook.
Oubre still on second unit
The Heat’s high-paced offense had a strong start. Pelle Larsson’s fast-break dunk was one of several early baskets Miami scored before the Sixers were fully back on defense.
The Sixers have multiple players capable of momentum-shifting defensive stretches. Maxey, who entered the night averaging an NBA-best 2.0 steals, is among that group. He blocked a Herro mid-range try, grabbed the ball and assisted an Edgecombe layup. Later, Maxey drew an offensive foul on Miami big man Kel’el Ware by sprinting through a baseline down screen and absorbing contact.
George knocked down a three on the Sixers’ final play of the first quarter and their second possession of the second. The Sixers made a 15-1 run to take a 39-38 lead.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse cut his rotation down to nine players, and that included a 36-second Justin Edwards stint. Kelly Oubre Jr. again came off the bench in his second game since returning from a left elbow sprain. He had 11 points on 5-for-14 shooting, 11 rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes.
If everyone stays healthy, we imagine Oubre may very well start over Dominick Barlow in the playoffs. Oubre can provide energy and two-way aggression in a second-unit role, but there’s no question his preference is to start. Barlow’s a selfless role player who often has not closed out games that he’s started this season. Both Barlow and Oubre have shown a knack for cutting off of Embiid, which helps each to mesh with the Sixers’ starters.
Sixers can’t stop decisive Heat run
The Sixers’ three-point halftime lead was soon down the drain.
Following a first half in which they committed just one turnover, the Sixers had five giveaways in the first five minutes and change of the third quarter. Embiid fell to 5 for 16 from the floor with a mid-range miss. Edgecombe was whistled for his fourth foul with 6:24 left in the third and then picked up a technical. Adebayo made the three ensuing free throws to put the Heat up 77-65.
The Sixers trailed by as many as 15 points late in the third quarter but summoned a timely 12-0 spurt. Maxey buried a three with 10.4 seconds left in the third to cut the Sixers’ deficit to 89-87. George raised his level, too.
Embiid subbed back in with 7:24 to go. A little over a minute later, he nailed a mid-range jumper, drew a foul in the process, and converted his free throw to tie the game at 101-all. A deep Maxey three pushed the Sixers in front. The Sixers’ defense was sturdy and Oubre snatched several important defensive rebounds.
The Sixers appeared to be in a nice position when Embiid drilled a three to lift them to a 107-103 lead. However, Miami replied with a game-deciding 14-0 run.
The Sixers’ offense was stationary and jumper-dependent against the Heat’s zone. Embiid and Maxey both missed decent looks. Herro blocked a George corner three attempt. Nothing the Sixers tried was successful on either end of the floor.
Herro delivered in the clutch with two three-pointers in a row. Jaime Jaquez Jr. spun through the Sixers and scored inside. Larsson banked in a push shot and Herro dropped in a runner. The Sixers have completely shut opposing offenses down at times the past two games, but flashes of potential are obviously insufficient to win playoff series.
They’ll aim for greater consistency (and continued good health) over the next couple of weeks.