By: Kylan Watson

After getting some days off to get things together, the desperate Philadelphia 76ers faced the Miami Heat for the first time this season. Both teams traded blows in this game, but once again the third quarter was a difference making quarter for the Sixers. They failed to take advantage of a great first-half and the Heat found their footing, and exploded in that period to beat Philly 106-89.

The Sixers had an explosive to start to this game, they were able to find the bottom of the net and were cashing in on their high-percentage opportunities. Jared McCain once again is proving that he needs to be a starter even when Tyrese Maxey comes back in the next few weeks.

He scored 20 points for the fifth straight game and has clearly gotten comfortable with his increase workload. McCain will continue to be an X-factor for the Sixers especially as Embiid and Maxey work their way back into basketball shape. Continuing to develop his chemistry with the “Big Three” will be crucial to determining if he will stay in the starting lineup or not.

Joel Embiid played tonight despite battling an illness and it showed in this game. He was not his usual self and only scored 11 points in this contest. He probably should not have played in this game the illness was clearly bothering him, but the Sixers need all the help they can get. This team will look a lot better once Embiid becomes his old self, but that needs to happen sooner than later because they are 2-11 right now and cannot afford to continue to blow games and make the playoffs in the loaded Eastern Conference.

The Sixers were able to build a 19-point lead by the end of the first quarter, but the Heat finally retook the lead in the second-half. For the second straight game a poor third quarter showing lost Philly a game. They have to find a way to play a complete game and the rotations by Nick Nurse have to be better.

There is no excuse to continue to play role players that give you nothing on the either side of the ball, play players who are difference makers. Or have Daryl Morey fill the roster with some because while they are only 13 games into the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season. You can go from a contender to the bottom of the league so fast in today’s NBA and that is where the Sixers are right now. As a result, something needs to change if the Sixers are going to turn this season around.

Miami took full advantage of the Sixers bad defensive play in the third quarter they were finally able to hit their three-pointers and that opened up the floor for the Heat. Jimmy Butler (30 points) and Tyler Herro (18 points) dominated this game.  They combined for 48 of Miami’s 106 points and the Sixers had no answers for them during the third quarter. Butler and Herro were able to find their rhythm by getting to the free throw line and hitting easy buckets. After they got going this game got away from Philly fast they started turning the ball over and Miami cashed in by finding the bottom of the net. The Sixers must protect the ball with more crisp and determinative passing not just throwing the ball and making it easy for Miami to create a turnover. That just put the Heat in great shape to win this game.

The Sixers will now prepare to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. They will have to play a complete game from start to finish on both sides of the ball. Especially without Ja Morant the Sixers should be able to take advantage of a Memphis team who will struggle to score the basketball.

However, they cannot afford to give up turnovers and give Memphis a chance to get their rhythm going because a confident team is a dangerous team to face. In addition, Philly has to find their rhythm from the three-point line, they cannot continue to win games when everyone not named Jared McCain is struggling to even be a threat from three-point range. Implementing these things into their gameplan on Wednesday should put them in great shape to win their third game of the season.