Heat beats 76ers, after big in-game trade, to move back above .500
Seldom has a game felt as much of an afterthought as Wednesday night, when the Heat shipped off Jimmy Butler early in the evening and then went on to beat the 76ers later in the evening.
The Heat – which led by five at halftime and by seven after three – withstood several second-half pushes by the 76ers to beat Philadelphia, 108-101, and move back over .500, at 25-24.
After the 76ers closed to within 97-93, Heat forward Nikola Jovic - who had a big night - blocked a shot and rookie Pelle Larsson hit a three to put Miami up by seven with 2:45 left.
Then Tyler Herro hit a jumper to leave the Heat ahead 102-96 with 1:42 left.
After a Herro turnover, Kelly Oubre hit a layup to trim the 76ers’ deficit to four. But Bam Adebayo hit a jumper with 33 seconds remaining to extend Miami’s lead back to six.
A three by Tyrese Maxey, who scored 31, pulled the 76ers to within 104-101 with 27 seconds to go. But Herro shook free for a layup after a terrific inbounds pass from Jovic, which put the Heat up five. Two Larsson free throws then settled matters.
Herro closed with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, shooting 11 for 20 from the field and 5 for 11 on threes.
Bam Adebayo added 18 points (8 for 16 shooting), 13 rebounds and 4 assists.
Jovic made his first eight shots - including a trio of three-pointers - on a 23-point, 5-rebound, 7-assist night. He closed 8 for 9 from the field.
And Terry Rozier shook off a 2 for 12 shooting night in Tuesday’s loss to Chicago by scoring 20 points on 8 for 17 shooting.
The 76ers played without Joel Embiid, who rested his perpetually troublesome knee on the second half of a back-to-back set.
Erik Spoelstra went with Pelle Larsson down the stretch, alongside Adebayo, Jovic, Herro and Rozier.
Larsson’s big three was his only basket from the field in 22 minutes.
Heat center Kel’El Ware left with two fouls 4:39 into the game and finished the night with 13 rebounds in 19 scoreless minutes, shooting 0 for 3 from the field.
None of the Heat players in uniform were traded on Wednesday.
Miami sent Butler to Golden State and acquired Warriors forwards Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson and former Heat forward P.J. Tucker, who hasn’t played this season while under contract to the Clippers, and more recently, the Jazz.
Anderson was expected to be re-routed to Toronto, but that deal reportedly fell through.
Miami next plays Friday at Brooklyn; the trades haven’t been announced and it seemed more likely that the three new players would join the team after the Nets game than before.
Here’s our Wednesday night story with a lot of Heat player reaction to the trade, and Kevin Love’s insight on Wiggins.
This story was originally published February 5, 2025 at 9:58 PM.
