A 114-110 win over the Heat to open the season, including a 19-0 run to start things, may have been a fluke. Sixers fans likely didn't expect the same performance, but perhaps something similar. Some fight, some grit, something. Unfortunately that was not the case in tonight's game as the Sixers (13-26) trailed from the opening tip, eventually falling to the Heat (28-11) by a score of 101-86.
With just over four minutes to go in the first half, the Sixers found themselves trailing by double-digits, 25-13. They managed to keep things relatively close, down by just 10 after one quarter. The stats weren't pretty as the game went along, shooting just 1-13 (7.7%) from three-point range and 31.1% from the field at the half. A suffocating Heat defense and Chris Bosh's 15 points in the first half put the struggling Sixers offense in a bad position. Missed layups & dunks cost the Liberty Ballers as the Heat showed off their championship calibur offense heading into the break with a 58-41 lead. Another not-so-pretty halftime fact? Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes and Michael Carter-Williams were a combined 3-22 from the floor through the first 24 minutes.
The Heat came out of the half right where they left off, extending their lead to 21 early into the third, led by Chris Bosh. After a first half that saw him struggling to get much of anything going, Spencer Hawes secured himself a double-double midway through the third. Another good note -signed to a 10-day contract a few days back, big-man Dewayne Dedmon scored his first NBA points with an 18-footer in the third.
Despite the Heat's best effort to pull even further ahead, the Sixers kept pace in the third, being outscored just 21-20. 79-61 would be the score heading into the fourth. The Sixers could only pull within 13 points, no closer, as they fell to the Heat, 101-86.
The lopsided game led the way for some younger players to see some time in the second half. Hollis Thompson came off of the bench to score 10 points and grab six rebounds while Dewayne Dedmon scored seven points and grabbed seven boards.
Overall, the Sixers struggled from the field all night, shooting just 36.9% from and just 10% (2-for-20) from beyond the arc. It could have been a different game if the Sixers did better from the charity strike as well. They made 22 free throws on 37 attempts, a dismal 59.5%.
Tony Wroten led all Sixers scores with 13 points, while Evan Turner added 11. Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes, and Hollis Thompson added 10 points a piece. Michael Carter-Williams never got his offensive game rolling, scoring seven points (1-7 FG), five from the free throw line.
On the Heat side, LeBron James fell just short of a double-double, finishing with 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Chris Bosh led the Heat with 25 points. Miami was much better at the line than Philadelphia, scoring 17 points on 20 shots.
Up next, the Sixers head to Chicago for an 8PM matchup with the Bulls on Saturday night before traveling to DC to face the Wizards on Monday night.
Follow Brandon Apter on Twitter @ApterShock
