|
Harden added nine assists and seven rebounds, applying the killing
blow by drilling a 3-pointer with 1:07 remaining for a 114-103
advantage. The 76ers also got 24 points and 11 rebounds from Joel
Embiid, while Tyrese Maxey hit for 18 points.
Game 5 of the series is set for Tuesday night in Miami, where the
Heat easily won the first two games. But that was against a
Philadelphia team missing Embiid, who was sidelined with a
concussion and a fractured orbital bone in his right eye suffered in
Game 6 of the 76ers' first-round series win over Toronto.
Jimmy Butler was splendid in defeat for Miami, scoring a game-high
40 points on just 20 field goal attempts. However, he again didn't
have enough help from his teammates. Bam Adebayo added 21 points,
but just two other Heat players hit for double figures.
Victor Oladipo tallied 15 off the bench for Miami, which was just 7
of 35 on 3-pointers. Meanwhile, the 76ers sank 16 of 33 from behind
the arc.
The first quarter was classic back-and-forth basketball. Miami used
the foul line to its advantage, drawing two fouls on Harden and
Tobias Harris. But Philadelphia kept pace with a 3-point barrage and
took a 30-28 lead into the second period, thanks to two Embiid foul
shots with 8.4 seconds left.
Harden overcame his foul trouble in the second quarter to score 13
points, including a 3-pointer that capped a 12-2 run that gave the
76ers a 56-46 advantage. They took a 64-56 margin to halftime when
Maxey canned a runner with 5.0 seconds on the clock.
Philadelphia extended the advantage to 11 early in the third quarter
before the Heat steadily reeled it in behind Butler. He had a
six-point possession to cut the lead to 74-70, and Miami drew within
two before a Georges Niang layup made it 89-85 76ers after three.
--Field Level Media
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
