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.
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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
