By: Kylan Watson

After falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night, the Philadelphia 76ers faced the Miami Heat for the final time this season. Both teams traded blows throughout this contest however thanks to a second quarter explosion the Heat were able to beat Philly 117-105. Losing this game extended the Sixers losing streak to 12 games.

Philly found their offense early in this contest and were able to cash in on the high-percentage opportunities created off their ball movement. Before Miami could even settle into this game they were down, and Philly was threatening to run away with this contest.

Lonnie Walker IV (29 points), Quentin Grimes (29 points), and Adem Bona (16 points) combined for 74 of the Sixers’ 105 points. Miami struggled to defend Walker IV and Grimes they were able to get whatever they wanted from the floor during this game. Specifically, from the paint Miami did not have much rim protection in this game and the Sixers took full advantage and were able to either hit their shots or get Miami’s defenders in foul trouble.

Grimes has continued to be a huge x-factor for the Sixers since being acquired in February and should be signed as soon as the offseason starts for Philly. He can be a transformative role player for them and could be a franchise building block if he continues to improve his game. He has only been in Philly for two months and has become one of the best players on the roster.

Despite the scoring explosion from Walker IV, Grimes, and Bona Miami were able to use a second quarter scoring surge to retake the lead. Duncan Robinson (21 points), Tyler Herro (20 points), and Kel’el Ware (19 points) refused to let the Heat lose this game as they combined for 60 of Miami’s 117 points in this contest. Robinson kept his team alive in this game by hitting five/six three-pointers in this contest and each of those were daggers for Philly.

The ball always found him and when it did, he would find the bottom of the net and end any momentum or chance the Sixers had at a comeback in this game. Miami needed all his three-pointers because Philly continued to fight in this game and had the lead late in the fourth quarter. The Sixers could never get comfortable with the lead because the Heat would storm back and hit their shots to stay ahead of them in this contest and win this game.

That was the difference in this contest when Miami had to have a pivotal bucket, they made it, and Philly could not find it late in the game and that kept them from ending their 12-game losing streak in tonight’s contest.

The Sixers will now prepare to face the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night, and they will need to limit their turnovers, continue to cash in on the high-percentage shooting opportunities created off their ball movement, and make sure Washington is taking well contested shots all night. Implementing these things into their game plan should put Philly in great shape to win their 24^th game of the season and end their 12-game losing streak.