FINAL: Philadelphia 128, Miami 108
It was close through three quarters, but in a game that featured 56 (yes, 56) personal fouls, the 76ers turned it up just enough in the fourth to keep the lead and improve to 2-1 in the series. over the Heat.
Miami was outscored 32-14 in the final 12 minutes.
Goran Dragic paced Miami with 23 points but was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Justise Winslow did not make a basket in the second half after putting up a season-high 19 points before intermission.
SIGN UP
Help us deliver journalism that makes a difference in our community. Our journalism takes a lot of time, effort, and hard work to produce. If you read and enjoy our journalism, please consider subscribing today. SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Meanwhile, Joel Embiid scored 23 points for Philadelphia, Marco Belinelli and Dario Saric each added 21 and Ben Simmons filled up the statsheet in his own right (19 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists).
Game 4 of the series is set to tip off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday from AmericanAirlines Arena.
Stay tuned to the Miami Herald for more coverage from tonight's game.
9:11 4Q: Philadelphia 105, Miami 95
The Sixers open the fourth quarter outscoring Miami 9-1. Heat needs to figure something out fast.
End of third quarter: Philadelphia 96, Miami 94
This game has already featured 13 ties and 17 lead changes. More of both are bound to happen in the final 12 minutes. More fouls will probably be called as well.
The Sixers are 14 for 26 from 3. The Heat is 13 for 26.
4:59 3Q: Miami 82, Philadelphia 80
Goran Dragic has 11 points already in the second half and is up to 23 points tonight.
To make sure you're up to date on the personal fouls:
For Miami: Hassan Whiteside has four, James Johnson, Tyler Johnson and Goran Dragic each have three.
For Philadelphia: Robert Covington has four, Dario Saric has three.
And two more technical fouls brings the total to six on the night.
Halftime observations
A few quick thoughts while we have a couple minutes
1.) Hello, Justise Winslow: What an opening half for him. A season-high 19 points in just 14 minutes on the floor. He's hit 4 three-pointers and 7 of 8 free throws while also hauling in six rebounds. It's just a continuation of the trend of bench players stepping up for the Heat. First it was Kelly Olynyk. Then it was Dwyane Wade in Game 2. Can Winslow keep it up in the second half? We'll find out.
2.) Embiid's impact: Joel Embiid is winning the battle with Hassan Whiteside early on ... Mainly because he's actually on the floor. Embiid has 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a block in 13 minutes of action. Whiteside, meanwhile, has just 3 points (all from free throws), 2 rebounds and a block and has been on the floor for just 7 minutes. Seven. If Embiid keeps up in the second half, Miami might be in trouble.
3.) Everyone gets a foul!: 31 personal fouls in the first half, including two technicals per team. It's getting scrappy at AmericanAirlines Arena. Buckle up for the second half. It should be a good one.
HALFTIME: Miami 64, Philadelphia 63
A Bam Adebayo jumper with 2.1 seconds left gives Miami the lead heading into the locker room.
3:23 2Q: Philadelphia 57, Miami 55
Every time Miami goes on a run, Philadelphia answers.
Justise Winslow (season-high 19 points, 6 rebounds) and Goran Dragic (12 points, 5 assists) are leading the way for the Heat.
7:51 2Q: Philadelphia 43, Miami 40
Calling this game physical very well might be an understatement. 19 personal fouls already. Timeout called on the floor after the goggles fall out of Joel Embiid's mask.
8:57 2Q: Whiteside goes down hard and hits his head on the floor while guarding Justin Anderson (the same Justin Anderson from below). He stays in the game.
10:26 2Q: Philadelphia 37, Miami 33
Dwyane Wade and Philadelphia's Justin Anderson scuffled underneath the bucket, resulting in a double technical.
See and judge for yourself here:
Dwyane Wade pulls down Justin Anderson. pic.twitter.com/2V96qhprUI — RealGM (@RealGM) April 19, 2018
End of 1st quarter: Philadelphia 37, Miami 33
The Heat outscored the Sixers 12-5 in the final two minutes of the quarter to cut the deficit to five heading into the second quarter. Justise Winslow has 10 points — 7 of which came in that final stretch of the quarter.
The Heat shot 50 percent from the field and made all nine of its free throws in the opening quarter.
2:08 1Q Philadelphia 32, Miami 21
The 76ers went on a three-point onslaught — and a 15-3 run — to jump out to a double-digit lead.
Dwyane Wade checked in with 3:57 left to play in the quarter after the 76ers went on a 7-0 run.
5:18 1Q: Philadelphia 17, Miami 16
Tyler Johnson continued his hot start and is now up to 8 points, but this game is still waiting for someone to go on a run.
Meanwhile, Hassan Whiteside once again in early foul trouble. Picked up his second less than 6 minutes into the game. He'll go to the bench.
Udonis Haslem led the Heat's huddle out of the timeout.
7:42 1Q: Philadelphia 10, Miami 9
Tyler Johnson scored Miami's first 6 points with a pair of 3s, but was clutching at his left wrist/thumb in the early possessions. Josh Richardson surprisingly already has three turnovers. A lot of empty possessions overall early. Miami 3 for 4 from three-point range.
7:11 p.m.: Game on.
6:54 p.m.: Joel Embiid will indeed start at center for the Philadelphia 76ers. The Embiid-Whiteside matchup will finally be reborn. Tipoff is less than 10 minutes away.
6:25 p.m.: The Heat is rolling out its usual starting lineup: Goran Dragic, Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson, James Johnson and Hassan Whiteside. We're about 35 minutes from action.
Original post: The Miami Heat split its first two NBA Playoff games at Philadelphia. Now, it's the Heat's turn to defend home court.
With the series tied 1-1 following Miami's 113-103 win in Game 2 on Monday, Miami has the opportunity to take a commanding lead in the series if it can win the next two games on its home court.
And with Philadelphia's star center Joel Embiid (upgraded from doubtful to probable at about 4:45 p.m.) expected to make his playoff debut in Thursday's game at AmericanAirlines Arena, the Heat knows it will have to play to its full potential if it wants to stay competitive in the playoff series.
The Heat won both of its home games against the Sixers this season — 102-101 on Feb. 27 and 108-99 on March 8. In fact, the Heat has won its last seven against Philadelphia at AmericanAirlines Arena with an 11.6-point average margin of victory over that span. The last time Miami lost at home to the Sixers: Dec. 23, 2014, a 91-87 defeat.
Tipoff for Game 3 is set for 7 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on TNT and locally on Fox Sports Sun.
We will provide updates and analysis here throughout the game. Until then, here's a look back at our coverage to get you ready for the action:
▪ Dwyane Wade provided another 'moment' in Heat history. Can he do it again in Game 3?
▪ Heat ready to ramp up physicality, trash talk whether Embiid plays or not
▪ From Greg Cote: It's good Wade can still carry the Heat, but teammates must step into the spotlight
▪ Dwyane Wade on Sixers fan Kevin Hart: 'We'll be friends after the playoffs is over with'
▪ Heat's Justise Winslow kind of likes 'being the bad guy' against Sixers, Simmons
▪ Veteran scout dishes on Whiteside, Wade and other thoughts on Heat-76ers series
The final score in Game 3 of Sixers-Heat was 128-108 with Philly taking home the win. If you only looked at the score, you’d think this game was a blowout but it was anything. Teams traded baskets for the entirety of the game in one of the most exciting back and forth games yet in these 2018 playoffs. It wasn’t until a late stretch in the fourth quarter that Philly really pulled away with this.
In Joel Embiid’s NBA Playoffs debut he scored 23 points while grabbing seven rebounds. There were concerns of rust for Embiid after missing nearly a month of playing time but for the most part he fit back into Philly’s rotation quite well. Dario Saric was the Sixers’ x-factor scoring 21 points and hitting four three-pointers.
For Miami, Justise Winslow had the game of his career with a 19-point and 10-rebound double-double. Goran Dragic scored 23 points of his own. But none of it was enough to stop this red hot Sixers team who just got their anchor back.
Sixers 128, Heat 108 - Final
This one got away from the Heat after what was largely a great game. Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and company were just too much for Miami to handle. The series stays in Miami for one more game before heading back to Philly.
Sixers 117, Heat 105 - 4:11 4Q
The Sixers are pulling away with this one but this drive and kick by Goran Dragic was incredible.
Sixers 105, Heat 95 - 8:32 4Q
The Heat just went -13 with Dragic out. He’s checking back in now before this gets out of hand.
Sixers 96, Heat 94 - End of 3Q
THIS GAME IS SO GOOD. Both teams are coached so well and playing beautiful yet tough basketball. This is playoff basketball at its best.
Marco Belinelli nails his 4th triple from way downtown!@sixers and @MiamiHEAT are trading bucket for bucket in Q3.
: @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/I9HZyCh97r — NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2018
Heat 78, Sixers 78 - 6:05 3Q
Miami is hanging with Philly, going bucket for bucket here in the 3rd quarter. Embiid is up to 16 points after hitting another three-pointer.
Heat 69, Sixers 66 - 10:56 3Q
Five straight points for Goran Dragic to start the 3rd quarter!
Heat 64, Sixers 63 - Halftime
Joel Embiid has 11 points at halftime in his NBA playoff debut. The masks has troubled him a little a times but he is clearly figuring out how to play with it. He did hit a three-pointer late in the second quarter and quickly shh’d the crowd.
Embiid makes a three and tries to quiet down the Heat crowd pic.twitter.com/9wZ61teyeN — SB Nation (@SBNation) April 20, 2018
Winslow still leads the way for Miami with 19 points. This series has gotten exciting and chippy to say the least. The second half should be really interesting.
Sixers 57, Heat 55 - 3:23 2Q
It feels like Miami is playing this game as well as they can and yet they’re still down to Philly. It helps for the Sixers that Dario Saric is heating up. He’s got nine points and just hit back-to-back buckets. A floater through the lane and a quick trigger three-pointer in transition.
Heat 46, Sixers 43 - 6:55 2Q
Miami is on an 8-0 run to take the lead! Winslow has been a huge factor with 15 points while Goran Dragic has 12.
Sixers 37, Heat 33 - 10:26 2Q
We haven’t had any points scored in the second quarter but we DO HAVE SOME SCRAPPING. Double technical fouls were handed out to Justin Anderson and Dwyane Wade.
Justin Anderson doesn't want none of this Dwyane Wade smoke. pic.twitter.com/oiZRFqfZLu — gifdsports (@gifdsports) April 19, 2018
Sixers 37, Heat 33 - End of 1Q
The Sixers get their three-point shots up so quickly and built up an 11-point lead but Miami stormed back thanks to Justise Winslow scoring 10 of Miami’s final 12 points in the quarter.
The Heat will have to do something to try and slow Philly down, though. They already have five three-pointers in the first quarter.
Sixers 17, Heat 16 - 5:18 1Q
Let’s check in on Miami:
Heat have a ton of energy out there, looking good thus far. Have to keep pestering these guys on D. — Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) April 19, 2018
Sixers 10, Heat 9 - 7:42 1Q
Tyler Johnson came out for the Heat and hit two three-pointers but the Sixers have bounced back taking a small lead into the first timeout. Embiid started the game and already has four points.
Pregame:
Joel Embiid is back! He’ll make his first ever appearance in the playoffs in Game 3 and he will debut a brand new face mask we have never seen before in the NBA.
The Miami Heat made a series of their first-round matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers thanks to their win Monday on the road, and now return home looking to take advantage in Game 3 on Thursday night at American Airlines Arena in Miami (7 p.m. ET, TNT).
Dwyane Wade turned back the clock with 28 points off the bench on 11-of-16 shooting, including 13 points in a decisive second quarter that saw Miami outscore Philadelphia by 21 points.
“It’s just in my DNA,” Wade told the Associated Press on Monday. “I love the stage.”
The 76ers find themselves in a spot they haven’t experienced in five weeks, finding out what to do after a loss. They responded to their previous last loss with 17 straight wins, including 16 to close out the regular season and nab the third seed in the Eastern Conference.
Ben Simmons is nearly averaging a triple-double through the first two games with 20.5 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds, all on 50 percent shooting.
Philadelphia center Joel Embiid has been cleared to play Thursday night, after missing the first two games of the season. He’s still recovering from an orbital bone fracture in his left eye and, counting the regular season, has missed the last 10 games. Embiid will be wearing a mask in Game 3.
Heat vs. 76ers Game 3 info
Location: American Airlines Arena, Miami
Game time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Announcers: Brian Anderson, Kevin McHale, and Rebecca Haarlow
Online streaming: Watch TNT
