76ers Fall to Heat in Game 5 in Miami

Snapshot:

The 76ers (2-3) fell to the Miami Heat (3-2), 120-85, on the road in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Tuesday night. Now trailing 3-2 in the series, the Sixers will host the Heat for Game 6 on Thursday at 7 p.m.

All five Heat starters, plus reserves Victor Oladipo and Tyler Herro scored in double figures. Miami led 56-44 at halftime and Jimmy Butler went on to finish the contest with a game-high 23 points (9-15 fg, 2-4 3fg, 3-4 ft). Kyle Lowry (hamstring) did not play.

Joel Embiid led the Sixers in scoring with 17 points.

The home Heat posted final shooting totals of 45-for-84 (.536) from the field, 13-for-33 (.394) from beyond the arc, and 17-for-23 (.739) from the free-throw line. The Sixers shot 31-for-85 (.365) from the floor, 9-for-32 (.281) from 3-point range, and 14-for-15 (.933) from the foul line.

After Butler on the scoresheet was Heat wing Max Strus, who shot 4-for-10 from long range and ultimately posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes as a starter.

Miami won the rebounding battle, 46-36, and produced a 56-36 advantage in points in the paint.

Key Contributors:

Joel Embiid

• In 33 minutes of play, Embiid posted a team-leading 17 points (7-12 fg, 0-1 3fg, 3-3 ft) with five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

James Harden

• Across a game-high 37 minutes of action, Harden totaled 14 points (5-13 fg, 2-6 3fg, 2-3 ft), six rebounds, four assists, and a steal.

Tobias Harris

• Harris finished with 12 points (5-14 fg, 2-4 3fg) and three rebounds in 33 minutes.

Shake Milton

• Milton came off the bench to add nine points (2-8 fg, 1-1 3fg, 4-4 ft), four rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 20 minutes.

@Sixers Social:

resilient. pic.twitter.com/i2aqx8W4Qu

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 11, 2022

Quote To Note:

“It should always be a desperate team,” Doc Rivers said in his Wednesday afternoon media availability when asked about channeling the cliché of teams being desperate when facing elimination. “It’s the playoffs. Every game is desperate. I watched games 3 and 4 of the Milwaukee [series]. That was desperate, by both teams. You have to expect Miami to play desperate, too. You have to expect their best and then beat them. And that’s the attitude we have to have tomorrow.”

Up Next:

• Game 6: Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m. in Philadelphia

• Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 15 in Miami

Related Links:

James Harden Leads 76ers Past Heat in Game 4, Series Tied 2-2

Joel Embiid Returns for 76ers in Game 3 Win Over Miami Heat