Kelly Oubre Jr. drives alongside the baseline and fights by way of contact for a layup.
PHILADELPHIA — \u2014 Tyrese Maxey<\/a> had 30 factors and 10 assists and Kelly Oubre Jr<\/a>. had 22 factors and 11 rebounds to assist the Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> maintain off the Miami Heat<\/a> 98-91 Monday evening in a possible preview of an NBA play-in match recreation.
Kyle Lowry<\/a> survived a hard tumble<\/a> over the scorer’s desk and scored 16 factors for the Sixers in his first recreation towards the Warmth since they traded him<\/a> in January.
Bam Adebayo<\/a> had 20 factors and 13 rebounds for the Warmth. Terry Rozier<\/a> III scored 20 factors.
The Warmth trailed by 14 factors getting into the fourth, however went on a 20-8 run and tied the sport at 85 on Caleb Martin\u2019s dunk. Buddy Hield<\/a> snapped the tie with 3-pointer and Lowry hit a 3 to assist the Sixers keep away from a brutal collapse in a recreation they could not afford to lose.
The Jap Convention champion Warmth are once more in play-in mode with 14 video games left this season and fell to eighth within the standings \u2014 they completed seventh a yr in the past when Jimmy Butler<\/a> sparked an inconceivable run to the NBA Finals. The 76ers are in seventh at 38-30 \u2014 the Warmth are 37-31 \u2014 an unpleasant spiral for a staff that spent many of the season as a surefire convention contender till dropping Joel Embiid<\/a> within the final recreation of January to a knee harm.
Butler (proper foot contusion) and Embiid (who continues to rehab) missed Monday\u2019s recreation. Sixers ahead Tobias Harris<\/a> (proper ankle sprain) additionally missed this one, and Miami’s Duncan Robinson<\/a> was pressured out of the sport with a nasty again, leaving each groups devoid of star energy \u2014 aside from Maxey.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse remained optimistic Embiid might return earlier than the tip of the season.
\u201cI feel he sort of rounds again into form and rhythm fairly shortly,\u201d Nurse mentioned. \u201cI feel clearly the extra video games now we have him, the higher. I additionally assume we need to get to some extent the place he\u2019s as wholesome as he will be at playoff or play-in time.\u201d
The Warmth and Sixers can solely hope all their starters are at full energy by the tip of the season. At this tempo, the Warmth and Sixers might play one another once more within the play-in match. In fourth yr of the format, the No. 7 seed performs No. 8. The winner is in and will get the No. 7 seed for the playoffs. The loser has a second probability.
\u201cWe\u2019re going to try to struggle prefer to heck to complete as excessive as we will,\u201d Nurse mentioned. \u201cThat issues. But when not, so be it. We\u2019ll play-in, we\u2019ll play within the playoffs, no matter. I simply hope we\u2019re taking part in.\u201d
Due to accidents, the Warmth have used a franchise-record 32 beginning lineups. They’re looking for any sort of consistency down the stretch and stave off any ideas a couple of potential second straight run that begins with the play-in.
\u201cWe\u2019re not serious about final yr, not serious about any of the narratives,\u201d Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned. \u201cWe\u2019re totally immersed in what we\u2019re making an attempt to do proper now.\u201d
With out Embiid, Maxey steadied the Sixers and dropped 18 factors within the first half to assist the Sixers win their second straight recreation following a skid during which they dropped seven of 10. The Sixers know, with out Embiid, the play-in tourney looms.
\u201cIt isn\u2019t any enjoyable if you\u2019re going backward to concentrate to it,\u201d Nurse mentioned.
UP NEXT
Warmth: Play Wednesday at Cleveland.
76ers: Harris will be a part of the staff on their upcoming four-game journey, which opens Wednesday at Phoenix.
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AP NBA: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nba<\/a><\/p>\n