Game ID: 22300985
Miami Heat @ Philadelphia 76ers
Monday, March 18, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHI 31 20 28 19 98MIA 23 26 16 26 91
MIA @ PHI ScoutingMIA @ PHI Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
PHI availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Maxey missed 3 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Embiid missed 17 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 5 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 31 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Martin back 3/03 after 3, 13 min since (108% of 12)
NEW Lowry 29 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Reed 19 to 24 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Maxey missed 4 since 3/05, returns tonight: 28 min (73% of 38)
OUT Embiid missed 18 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 6 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 32 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Martin back 3/03 after 3, 11 min since (92% of 12)
NEW Reed 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Payne 18 to 26 min over the last 4
PHI availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 19 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 7 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 33 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Maxey back 3/12 after 4, 28 min since (73% of 38)
NEW Reed 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Payne 18 to 25 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 20 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 8 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 34 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Maxey back 3/12 after 4, 32 min since (85% of 38)
NEW Reed 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Dowtin Jr. 12 to 17 min over the last 3
PHI availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 21 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 9 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 35 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Dowtin Jr. missed 2 since 3/14, out tonight
BACK Maxey back 3/12 after 4, 35 min since (92% of 38)
NEW Reed 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 22 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Harris missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 10 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 36 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Dowtin Jr. missed 3 since 3/14, returns tonight: 12 min (102% of 12)
BACK Maxey back 3/12 after 4, 37 min since (96% of 38)
NEW Reed 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 23 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Harris missed 3 since 3/16, returns tonight: 41 min (120% of 34)
OUT Melton missed 11 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 37 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Maxey back 3/12 after 4, 35 min since (92% of 38)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Reed 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 24 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 12 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 38 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 41 min since (120% of 34)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Bamba 13 to 24 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/25 · back-to-backOUT Embiid missed 25 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 13 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 39 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 39 min since (116% of 34)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Bamba 13 to 24 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 7 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 10 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 4 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Love missed 5 since 2/29, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 8 since 2/23, out tonight
BACK Bryant back 3/05 after 12, 8 min since (69% of 12)
NEW Robinson 27 to 33 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/13 · 2 days' restOUT Herro missed 8 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 11 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 5 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Love missed 6 since 2/29, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 2 since 3/08, returns tonight: 14 min (119% of 12)
OUT Cain missed 9 since 2/23, out tonight
NEW Robinson 27 to 32 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 9 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 12 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 6 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Love missed 7 since 2/29, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 10 since 2/23, returns tonight: 1 min (11% of 10)
BACK Bryant back 3/05 after 12, 10 min since (86% of 12)
MIA availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 10 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 13 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 7 since 3/02, returns tonight: 21 min (95% of 22)
OUT Love missed 8 since 2/29, out tonight
BACK Bryant back 3/13 after 2, 15 min since (134% of 12)
BACK Cain back 3/15 after 10, 1 min since (11% of 10)
MIA availability going into 3/18 · back-to-backOUT Herro missed 11 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 14 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Love missed 9 since 2/29, out tonight
BACK Wright back 3/17 after 7, 21 min since (95% of 22)
BACK Bryant back 3/13 after 2, 14 min since (120% of 12)
BACK Cain back 3/15 after 10, 1 min since (11% of 10)
NEW Robinson 27 to 32 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Butler III missed 2 since 3/17, returns tonight: 37 min (109% of 34)
OUT Herro missed 12 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 15 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 2 since 3/17, returns tonight: 33 min (166% of 20)
OUT Love missed 10 since 2/29, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 2 since 3/17, out tonight
BACK Wright back 3/17 after 7, 18 min since (83% of 22)
BACK Bryant back 3/13 after 2, 14 min since (125% of 12)
MIA availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 13 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 16 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Love missed 11 since 2/29, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 3 since 3/17, returns tonight: 4 min (38% of 10)
BACK Butler III back 3/20 after 2, 37 min since (109% of 34)
BACK Wright back 3/17 after 7, 17 min since (79% of 22)
BACK Jović back 3/20 after 2, 33 min since (166% of 20)
BACK Bryant back 3/13 after 2, 14 min since (126% of 12)
MIA availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 14 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 2 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 17 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Love missed 12 since 2/29, out tonight
BACK Butler III back 3/20 after 2, 37 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Wright back 3/17 after 7, 19 min since (85% of 22)
BACK Jović back 3/20 after 2, 26 min since (130% of 20)
BACK Cain back 3/15 after 10, 2 min since (25% of 10)
MIA availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 15 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 3 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 18 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Love missed 13 since 2/29, out tonight
BACK Butler III back 3/20 after 2, 33 min since (96% of 34)
BACK Wright back 3/17 after 7, 21 min since (96% of 22)
BACK Jović back 3/20 after 2, 24 min since (117% of 20)
BACK Cain back 3/22 after 3, 7 min since (66% of 10)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 93 a night and allowing 99, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Maxey at 26 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Embiid (21 straight), Melton (9 straight), Covington (35 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 103, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 18 free throws a game; Butler III at 18 and Robinson at 16 a game. Without Herro (11 straight), Richardson (14 straight), Love (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-7. Call it Philadelphia 107, Miami 104, Miami keeping it close.
3/10 @ NYK 79-73 — PHI notes
PHI won 79-73. PHI shot 39% (31 of 80) to NYK's 32%, 9 of 30 from three. PHI turned it over 13 times to NYK's 19. Oubre Jr. led with 18 (6 of 19, 0 of 3 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); Hield added 16, Reed 13. The hinge was Q2, 22-16: from level to 6 ahead. Hield was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
3/12 @ NYK 79-106 — PHI notes
PHI lost 79-106. PHI shot 38% (30 of 80) to NYK's 51%, 8 of 33 from three. The glass went 31-51 against them. Oubre Jr. led with 19 (7 of 15, 3 of 6 from three); Maxey added 17, Reed 14. Q4 was theirs, 18-19, but the other 3 periods went 87-61 against them. Maxey's -29 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/14 @ MIL 105-114 — PHI notes
PHI lost 105-114. PHI shot 49% (39 of 79) to MIL's 54%, 17 of 35 from three, and got to the line 14 times to MIL's 24. Maxey led with 30 (12 of 23, 5 of 9 from three); Harris added 15, Payne 13. Q1 was theirs, 29-24, but the other 3 periods went 90-76 against them. They led by as many as 12. Batum's -14 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 vs CHA 109-98 — PHI notes
PHI won 109-98. PHI shot 44% (36 of 81) to CHA's 45%, 13 of 41 from three, and went to the line 25 times to CHA's 18 — 24 points from the stripe to their 14. Maxey led with 30 (8 of 20, 3 of 9 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Oubre Jr. added 22, Hield 14. The hinge was Q1, 27-24: from level to 3 ahead. Batum was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/18 vs MIA 98-91 — PHI notes
PHI won 98-91. PHI shot 44% (37 of 85) to MIA's 39%, 13 of 36 from three. Maxey led with 30 (11 of 24, 3 of 10 from three); Oubre Jr. added 22, Lowry 16. The hinge was Q3, 28-16: a lead of 2 became 14, and the lead reached 17. Maxey was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
3/20 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 16 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Okogie (8 straight). 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 94 a night and allowing 96, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Maxey at 27 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Embiid (22 straight), Harris (2 straight), Melton (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 96 a night to Phoenix's 118 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-7 a night and Philadelphia minus-6. Call it Phoenix 111, Philadelphia 109, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/22 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 28 and Russell at 23 a game. Without Reddish (4 straight), Vanderbilt (19 straight), Vincent (41 straight). 3 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 105, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Maxey at 23 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Embiid (23 straight), Harris (3 straight), Melton (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-1 a night and Philadelphia minus-9 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 105 a night to the Lakers' 117. Call it the Lakers 115, Philadelphia 111, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/24 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; George at 28 and Leonard at 25 a game. Without Powell (3 straight), Westbrook (11 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 104, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Maxey at 25 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Embiid (24 straight), Melton (12 straight), Covington (38 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 40 percent from three to Philadelphia's 34 and the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-1 a night and Philadelphia minus-7. Call it the Clippers 113, Philadelphia 108.
3/25 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 103, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Fox at 24 and Sabonis at 19 a game. Without Lyles (6 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 102, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Maxey at 23 and Oubre Jr. at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Embiid (25 straight), Melton (13 straight), Covington (39 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-1 a night and Philadelphia minus-6 and the line, where Sacramento takes 23 free throws a game to Philadelphia's 18. Call it Sacramento 112, Philadelphia 108, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/10 vs WAS 108-110 — MIA notes
MIA lost 108-110. MIA took 14 more shots (95 to 81), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to WAS's 48%, 10 of 33 from three. The glass went 51-40 for them. Butler III led with 23 (9 of 20, 0 of 4 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Adebayo added 16, Rozier 16. Q2 was theirs, 27-23, but the other 3 periods went 87-81 against them. They led by as many as 11.
3/13 vs DEN 88-100 — MIA notes
MIA lost 88-100. MIA shot 42% (34 of 80) to DEN's 49%, 5 of 21 from three. Adebayo led with 17 (7 of 15); Butler III added 15, Rozier 14. Q3 was theirs, 27-22, the deficit cut from 6 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 78-61 against them. Martin's -14 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/15 @ DET 108-95 — MIA notes
MIA won 108-95. MIA shot 47% (43 of 91) to DET's 43%, 7 of 34 from three, and went to the line 21 times to DET's 15 — 15 points from the stripe to their 13. MIA turned it over 8 times to DET's 17. Adebayo led with 22 (10 of 14); Rozier added 18, Martin 18. The hinge was Q3, 28-18: a lead of 2 became 12, and the lead reached 21. Butler III was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/17 @ DET 104-101 — MIA notes
MIA won 104-101. MIA shot 45% (40 of 89) to DET's 46%, 12 of 35 from three. Robinson led with 30 (10 of 15, 7 of 12 from three); Adebayo added 20, Rozier 17. The hinge was Q2, 39-27: MIA came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 17.
3/18 @ PHI 91-98 — MIA notes
MIA lost 91-98. MIA shot 39% (35 of 89) to PHI's 44%, 12 of 33 from three. Rozier led with 20 (8 of 21, 3 of 7 from three); Adebayo added 20, Martin 13. Q4 was theirs, 26-19, the deficit cut from 14 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 79-65 against them. Adebayo's -19 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/20 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Garland at 19 and Allen at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Strus (8 straight), Eva. Mobley (7 straight), Wade (5 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 101, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 17 free throws a game; Adebayo at 19 and Butler III at 17 a game. Without Butler III (2 straight), Herro (12 straight), Richardson (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 38 percent from three to Miami's 29 and the glass, where Miami has been plus-3 a night and Cleveland minus-4. Call it Cleveland 109, Miami 106, Miami keeping it close.
3/22 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 100, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 18 free throws a game; Adebayo at 20 and Butler III at 20 a game. Without Herro (13 straight), Richardson (16 straight), Love (11 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Williamson at 28 and McCollum at 17 a game. Without Daniels (17 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 100 a night to New Orleans's 108. Call it Miami 109, New Orleans 106, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/24 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 102, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 17 free throws a game; Butler III at 20 and Adebayo at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Herro (14 straight), Robinson (2 straight), Richardson (17 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Garland at 18 and Allen at 18 a game. Without Mitchell (3 straight), Strus (10 straight), Eva. Mobley (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Cleveland giving it away 12 times a game to Miami's 9 and the arc, Cleveland at 35 percent from three to Miami's 31. Call it Miami 107, Cleveland 106, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/26 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 100, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Butler III at 21 and Rozier at 18 a game. Without Herro (15 straight), Robinson (3 straight), Richardson (18 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Thompson at 20 a game. Without Šarić (2 straight), Looney (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 100 a night to Golden State's 119 and the arc, Golden State at 39 percent from three to Miami's 34. Call it Miami 113, Golden State 110, Golden State keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHIBH B. Hield
CP C. Payne
KL K. Lowry
KM K. Martin
KO K. Oubre Jr.
MB M. Bamba
NB N. Batum
PR P. Reed
TM T. Maxey
MIABA B. Adebayo
CM C. Martin
DR D. Robinson
DW D. Wright
HH H. Highsmith
JJ J. Jaquez Jr.
PM P. Mills
TB T. Bryant
TR T. Rozier
PHI/MIA the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr. post double-doubles and lead 76ers past Heat 98-91
PHILADELPHIA -- — Kyle Lowry hustled after a loose basketball and launched himself over the scorer's table and into the lap of the public address announcer.
Lowry turns 38 next week and joked that at his age, he has “no brakes.” But his feet flying in the air is just the way the 76ers' guard plays — no extra incentive needed, not even in his first game against his former Heat teammates.
“I think the juice was that we understood it was a big game for the standings,” Lowry said. “I love and admire those guys so much. I still root for them, except when we play against them. There was no added juice.”
Tyrese Maxey had 30 points and 10 assists and Kelly Oubre Jr . had 22 points and 11 rebounds to help Philadelphia hold off Miami 98-91 Monday night in a potential preview of an NBA play-in tournament game.
Lowry shot 6 of 12 and scored 16 points for the Sixers in his first game against the Heat since they traded him in January.
“He was being a little ornery at shootaround today and he hasn't been yet,” said coach Nick Nurse, who won an NBA title with Lowry in Toronto. “I feel like he's getting back to more of his normal self.”
Bam Adebayo had 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat. Terry Rozier III scored 20 points.
The Heat trailed by 14 points entering the fourth, before going on a 20-8 run and tying the game at 85 on Caleb Martin’s dunk. Buddy Hield snapped the tie with 3-pointer and Lowry hit a 3, helping the Sixers avoid a collapse in a game they needed to win.
The Eastern Conference champion Heat are again in play-in mode with 14 games left this season, falling to eighth in the standings — they finished seventh a year ago when Jimmy Butler sparked an improbable run to the NBA Finals. With Indiana's loss, the 76ers are barely in sixth at 38-30 — Indiana is 38-31; the Heat 37-31.
The Sixers had been in an ugly spiral after spending most of the season as a surefire conference contender, until losing Joel Embiid to a knee injury in late January.
Butler (right foot contusion) and Embiid (who continues to rehab) missed Monday’s game. Sixers forward Tobias Harris (right ankle sprain) also missed this one, and Miami's Duncan Robinson was forced out of the game with a bad back, leaving both teams devoid of star power — except for Maxey.
Nurse remained optimistic Embiid could return before the end of the season.
“I think he kind of rounds back into shape and rhythm pretty quickly,” Nurse said. “I think obviously the more games we have him, the better. I also think we want to get to a point where he’s as healthy as he can be at playoff or play-in time.”
At this pace, the Heat and Sixers could play each other in the play-in tournament. In the fourth year of the format, the No. 7 seed plays No. 8. The winner is in, and gets the No. 7 seed for the playoffs. The loser has a second chance.
“We’re going to try and fight like heck to finish as high as we can,” Nurse said.
Because of injuries, the Heat have used a franchise-record 32 starting lineups. They are trying to find consistency down the stretch and stave off a potential second straight run that starts with the play-in.
“We’re not thinking about last year, not thinking about any of the narratives,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Without Embiid, Maxey steadied the Sixers and dropped 18 points in the first half to help the Sixers win their second straight game following a skid in which they dropped seven of 10.
UP NEXT
Heat: Play Wednesday at Cleveland.
76ers: Harris will join the team as it opens a four-game trip in Phoenix on Wednesday.