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Third Quarter

Some good plays from the Sixers’ defense to start the half as George blocked a Bam Adebayo layup attempt. Maxey picked off a pass and stuffed Herro on a drive, but Herro was still able to spring free for a couple of threes to keep the Sixers at bay.

Maxey was the biggest example of guys just not being able to buy a basket. He only made one jumpshot in the first half. He was able to get downhill a couple times in the third that opened up a step-back for him in the midrange. It wasn’t much though as the Sixers continued to lose ground as their perimeter defense continued to be a mess.

Desperate for energy, Ricky Council IV checked into the game for the first time late in the quarter. He picked up a loose ball foul on his first play and nearly airballed his first shot attempt. The Sixers trailed by seven after three.

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Fourth Quarter

For as much as the perimeter defense struggled, Adem Bona was really hustling around the post. He poked free a steal at the start of the quarter and was rewarded with a post touch on the other end. He fared better than Yabusele for most of the night, both in terms of rebounding and offering resistance to Adebayo and Nikola Jovic. Jackson and Eric Gordon each got baskets off of drives to bring the Sixers closer as Maxey returned to the game.

Maxey and George returned, and they each hit a three that stopped potential Heat runs. Anytime the Sixers could get the lead down to four or five though, the offense would go cold.

An ugly sequence where the Sixers came up empty thinking they got fouled was followed by a Miami three that pushed the lead to seven. The Sixers got a couple more chances — Oubre got a steal to cut it back to four to make up for the free throw and layup he had just missed. Maxey then hit a quick three to answer a Heat basket. Herro was able to get around Maxey off the inbounds pass for an easy layup that put the game away. An ugly game, but one the Sixers should have had.

The most newsworthy thing to happen to the Miami Heat Wednesday night was their 108-101 win over the Sixers. Philadelphia shot just 38% from the field and 30% from three.

Tyrese Maxey got off to a slow start, but led all scorers with 31 points, his seventh straight game with at least 30. He shot 11-of-28 from the field.

After missing the last five games due to a finger injury, Paul George returned to the lineup and struggled, finishing with nine points shooting 3-of-11 from the floor. Tyler Herro led the Heat with 30 points.

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Joel Embiid was out again due to this being the second leg of a back-to-back.

Here are some thoughts from the Center.

First Quarter

Trying to get him in a rhythm early, the Sixers got a couple of good looks for George off the catch but neither fell. They opened the game 1-of-9 from the floor, with that lone make being a wide open fast break. While Miami turned it over three times in the first couple minutes, they made four of their first five shots of the night.

While they went almost six minutes in between field goals, the Sixers’ offense was able to stay afloat by getting to the line. They were in the bonus less than halfway through the quarter. Kelly Oubre Jr. got things going again with a pair of drives and a corner three.

Even with a four-guard lineup to close the quarter they still couldn’t buy a jumpshot, though they were able to find Guerschon Yabusele in the post a few times to break down the zone. The Heat scored on their last four trips down the court, taking a four-point lead after one.

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Second Quarter

One of those guards finally got some shots to go down as Reggie Jackson ripped off eight points to start the quarter. He and Kyle Lowry had a couple nice moments when they got left on islands on defense, but those lineups had some trouble rebounding. They surrendered three in a row on one possession.

After Herro did most of the damage for the Heat in the first, Terry Rozier started to hurt the Sixers off the dribble in the second. He had 13 points in the quarter. The Sixers’ first unit got some of their looks to fall as they checked back in, George was able to knock down a couple wide open threes.

Maxey knocked down a step-back three with a couple minutes left, but that was the last good thing that happened for them in the half. They turned it over a couple of times, one of which George got T’d arguing the non-call. Not only did he give Miami a potential free point (Herro missed the free throw), but they had already missed a shot, so all he did was kill a fast break opportunity. The Heat led by five at the break.