Bam Adebayo showcased his dominance with 23 points and 14 rebounds. On Wednesday night, he guided the Miami Heat to a hard-fought 109-104 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, marking the final game for both teams before the NBA All-Star break.
Adebayo’s emphatic dunk marked the highlight of a decisive 10-2 run in the fourth quarter, propelling Miami to a lead they would hold until the final buzzer.
Tyler Herro also contributed significantly, with 23 points of his own. At the same time, Duncan Robinson chipped in 20, powering the Heat to their second consecutive win and their fourth in the last five outings, building on their triumph over Milwaukee the night before.
“You always want to go into the All-Star break on a good note,” Adebayo said. “To get two signature wins like that, it shows that if we believe we can do it, we can get stuff done. Even if we don’t have a lot of guys.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat, Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey led his team’s effort with 30 points, supported by Buddy Hield‘s 22 points and 10 assists and Paul Reed‘s commendable 18 points and 12 rebounds, stepping up without the injured Joel Embiid.
The game was a tightly contested affair from tip-off to the final whistle, featuring 21 lead changes and 15 ties, underscoring the intensity of the matchup.
“We wanted to make it ugly, honestly,” Herro said. “Just figure out a way how we can get ourselves in a position to win the game at the end. And we did that. We made a few more plays than they did in the fourth quarter and were able to get the win.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat, Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
In a pivotal fourth-quarter sequence, Miami’s Haywood Highsmith drained a crucial 3-pointer, followed by Herro’s acrobatic layup, Robinson’s timely long-range shot, and Adebayo’s thunderous dunk, giving the Heat an edge they would not relinquish.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra commended his team’s defensive commitment, particularly in the game’s closing minutes, emphasizing the importance of such efforts in securing victories.
“I was encouraged to see the commitment to do the tougher things defensively and I saw a lot of those plays in the last six minutes of the game,” Spoelstra said.
Despite Maxey’s brief absence due to injury, Philadelphia struggled in the final quarter, failing to convert on key opportunities and allowing Miami to capitalize on offensive rebounds.
“We turned down a couple of open threes and tried to drive, but it was a tough drive because Bam was sitting underneath the basket the whole game,” Nurse said. “You’re going to have to go finish after you beat your guy. You have to go finish over him in some fashion.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat, Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
While the 76ers mounted a late comeback attempt, narrowing the deficit to three points in the final minute, the Heat maintained their composure, sealing the win with crucial second-chance baskets off offensive rebounds.
Spoelstra highlighted the significance of such “winning plays,” stressing the importance of securing extra possessions, which proved pivotal in securing the victory. The game saw several key absences on both sides, with players sidelined due to various injuries and personal reasons, highlighting the resilience and depth of both teams’ rosters.
Looking ahead, the Miami Heat will face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, February 23, while the Philadelphia 76ers will host the New York Knicks on Thursday, February 22.
