Heat rally comes up short in critical 124-117 loss in Philadelphia in play-in chase

The victories over the New Orleans Pelicans, Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies that gave the Heat the three-game winning streak going into the week were window dressing against going-nowhere teams.

The last two games, including Thursday night’s 124-117 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena, were the reality check for Erik Spoelstra’s team.

In a game with significant impact in the playoff and play-in races, the Heat stormed back from a 16-point halftime deficit to a third-period lead, only to come up short in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive game, after losing in a similar situation in Tuesday night’s loss in Milwaukee at the start of this two-game trip.

“We wanted to do something here on the road,” Spoelstra said. “I thought we had two shots at it in both of these games. But this pressure, and  everything that we’re feeling going down the stretch, this is a privilege. This is an absolute privilege. Even when we’re not getting the result that we want, we have an opportunity to step up into this pressure.”

Thursday’s loss, on a night the Heat lost All-Star guard Norman Powell in the first half with a groin strain, came despite a 29-point, 14-rebound effort from center Bam Adebayo, who was supported by 25 points from Tyler Herro, 19 from Jaime Jaquez Jr. and 18 from Andrew Wiggins.

“There’s going to be a lot more clutch games in these last 20-plus,” Spoelstra said. “We’re going to continue to get better at them and win these games.”

The 76ers, who moved 2 1/2 games ahead of the Heat in the race for the final spot ahead of the play-in bracket in the East, got 28 points from Tyrese Maxey, 26 points and 11 rebounds from Joel Embiid.

Five Degrees of Heat from Thursday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The 76ers led 36-35 after the opening period and 73-57 at halftime.

With a 24-7 start to the third quarter, the Heat then went ahead before going into the fourth down 99-91. The 76ers entered having been outscored in the third quarter this season by an NBA-high 231 points.

The Heat entered 1-22 this season when trailing after three quarters, 0-14 in that situation on the road.

Through it all, the Heat tied it 112-112 with 4:22 to play on a pair of Wiggins free throws, with a Herro 3-pointer with 2:44 to play putting the Heat up 117-116, only their second lead of the game.

But with Kelly Oubre Jr. converting a 3-pointer with 1:52, the Heat quickly were down four, as the 76ers sealed it with an Embiid 3-pointer with 29.2 seconds to play.

“They ran us out of the gym in the first half, and then if they missed, they had those second-chance, 14 second-chance opportunities,” Spoelstra said. “Then it settled in, the effort changed the momentum of the game. We got back into it, took a lead, and then it became a possession game. From there, they made some plays down the stretch where we couldn’t.”

2. Sizzling start: Maxey was up to 20 points by the end of the opening period, also with three assists  in the quarter.

At 5 of 8 on 3-pointers in the first period, Maxey, with his fourth of the night, moved past Allen Iverson for the 76ers all-time career lead in 3-pointers.

Maxey,  the No. 21 pick in the 2020 NBA draft, taken one pick after the Heat selected Precious Achiuwa, then was limited to four points over the next two periods.

He rounded out his double-double with 11 assists.

3. The big deal: For years, when cast as the Heat’s lone option at center, Adebayo would mention the taxing task of going against the mass of Embiid.

With Kel’el Ware having been moved back to the bench in a limited role, it again was a taxing night for the outsized Adebayo, as Spoelstra remained with his preferred smaller-ball opening lineup that again Andrew Wiggins as the de facto starring power forward.

To his credit, Adebayo found his way through the challenge, already with a double-double with 1:56 left in the first half, the eighth time in his career he has recorded one by the intermission.

Ware played only 12 minutes, closing with five points and six rebounds.

“Bam, our center position tonight, was excellent, with both those guys for 48 minutes, that’s as good as it can get,” Spoelstra said.

4. Powell play: Questionable earlier in the day with a groin strain, Powell left for good with 4:46 to play in the second period with the ailment,  after chasing a loose ball out of bounds.

“That’s the same one that he’s been dealing with, and we’ll just have to see what it is,” Spoelstra said.

He closed with three points on 1 of 5 shooting.

Of the team’s approach with Powell, Spoelstra said there was ample prudence before the veteran guard was cleared.

“We’re getting to know him as the months go by, and so he knows his body better than anybody,” Spoelstra said. “But we’re in constant communication with Norm and the trainers, and he was able to pass all the protocols.”

5. Enter Herro: With Powell out, Herro, who has come off the bench in his first four games back from the rib injury that had him out since Jan. 15, opened the second half with the starters.

Herro opened 1 of 6 on 3-pointers before converting again midway through the third period. He was up to 20 points through three quarters.

With Powell out, Herro this time played as closer, ending at 9 of 18 from the field, including 4 of 10 on 3-pointers, also with seven assists.

“He was terrific in that second half,” Spoelstra said.