Philadelphia allowed more than 100 points in each game and didn’t have the usual rim protector there to cut off Miami’s penetration. So it’s rare to see him publicly display his frustration like this.
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Mills was again given the hard defensive task of guarding the taller Klay Thompson, who had 31 points including connecting on five of his eight three-point attempts. Instead, he said it all came thanks to comedian Kevin Hart – a Philadelphia native who has taken the Jack Nicholson role of famous courtside fan for the Sixers and had rung the ceremonial bell in Philly that night to open the game. His presence on the practice floor was encouraging to Brown, who added that Embiid was progressing toward being cleared for contact.
Tallying 28 points, Wade delivered one dagger after another, as the Sixers threatened a Heat lead that hung around double digits for much of the second half.
Even before Embiid posted the Instagram story “F– sick and exhausted of being babied” (see story), Brett Brown knew the Sixers needed the help of their All-Star center.
“When he’s not able to do that, he gets frustrated and I respect his frustration”.
Sixers coach Brett Brown predicted correctly before the game that Miami had no choice but to chase his team beyond the three-point line, where the 76ers had made 18 of 28 shots in the opener. We knew they were going to come out more physical.
Game three is on Thursday in Miami. He pointed out to the Heat’s run in the second quarter as moments he coudl have used Embiid.
“We played that first game like a regular-season game”, Wade said.
The three-time National Basketball Association champion came off the bench to score a season-high 28 points in 23 minutes on the court, adding seven rebounds and three assists as the Heat emerged 113-103 winners at the Wells Fargo Center. “It’s nearly as if they got cocky and thought they didn’t need him”.
Dario Saric finds Ben Simmons with a long pass for the TD … er, a slam dunk. From the looks of a tweet Gabrielle Union sent out after his big game, Wade might get some help out with that.
And, as Game 3 approaches Thursday in Miami with the series tied at one game apiece, Embiid’s status is still up in the air.
Covington 3-13 0-0 7, Saric 8-21 4-4 23, Ilyasova 7-10 0-1 14, Simmons 10-17 4-6 24, Redick 4-13 2-4 11, Holmes 0-0 0-0 0, A.Johnson 3-5 0-0 6, McConnell 0-1 2-2 2, Fultz 0-3 0-0 0, Belinelli 5-13 4-5 16.
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And moving forward, as the series shifts to Miami, the young Sixers must adjust.
