Takeaways, reaction from Heat’s Game 2 win against Philadelphia 76ers
Five takeaways from the Heat’s 119-103 win against Philadelphia on Wednesday, putting Miami ahead 2-0 in this second-round playoff series:
▪ Jimmy Butler’s feel for what’s needed, and ability to deliver that, remains a constant of this postseason, and a big reason why Miami is 6-1. We saw that on full display in Game 2.
After Kyle Lowry joined the Heat last summer, Butler prioritized scoring, knowing that Lowry would be the team’s primary playmaker.
With a hamstring injury sidelining Lowry for a fourth consecutive game, Butler assumed more of a playmaker bent and dished out seven assists in the first half and 12 for the game, to go along with 22 points, six rebounds and two steals.
And these weren’t ordinary, run of the mill assists. There were brilliant feeds to Bam Adebayo and Dwayne Dedmon for dunks, immaculately timed passes to open teammates for jumpers and a couple of high-degree-of-difficulty dishes to teammates cutting to the basket.
Butler’s fingerprints were on everything positive that happened to the Heat during the first several minutes of the third quarter, and at a critical juncture, too.
After Philadelphia closed to within four shortly after halftime, Butler hit a jumper, drew a foul and hit two free throws, forced James Harden to take an errant three, and then beat everyone downcourt for a dunk off a Gabe Vincent pass. Then he made passes to PJ Tucker for a three and to Adebayo for a basket.
“He was making a lot of really good, smart plays,” Erik Spoelstra said.
With the 76ers clinging to life late (down 12), Butler helped deliver the dagger by driving past his man, drawing a second defender and dishing to Victor Oladipo for a three.
“I think everybody just plays basketball the right way,” he said of his team.
Butler entered the second round as the NBA’s second leading scorer in postseason.
For the series, Butler now has 37 points, 15 assists, 15 rebounds and four steals.
“We just did what we’re supposed to do,” Butler said. “We’re so talented.”
▪ The Heat’s bench continued to dominate.
The 76ers’ depth is suspect enough already, but the disparity is even more pronounced when Tyler Herro is playing at this level, and Oladipo is looking like the Oladipo of old, instead of an old Oladipo.
After scoring 25 in Game 1, Herro scored 16 in the first half and 18 for game.
“He’s a big reason why we’re going to end up winning this year,” Butler said.
Heat reserves outscored the 76ers’ bench players, 42-21, in Game 1 and 51-19 on Wednesday.
Herro opened four for four and hit a key floater late in the third to put the Heat ahead 91-80 after three.
And Herro did more than score. He set up Bam Adebayo for an alley-oop dunk in the fourth, then found an open Max Strus for a three that pushed the lead to 99-86 with under seven minutes left.
Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said he told his team at halftime: “Let’s make a mistake on anyone but Herro.”
Tobias Harris, who scored 21, said Herro is such a problem to defend because “he’s crafty. He can get a shot off anytime. When he gets in a game, the offense gets predicated toward him. We can’t lose a guy like that and we lost him too many times.”
Oladipo - essentially taking Duncan Robinson’s spot in the rotation - hit two nifty driving layups, nailed three threes, and chipped in 19 points on 6 for 11 shooting. His point total matched that of the entire 76ers bench.
There were a handful of very good moments for Oladipo on his 30th birthday, including one sequence where he forced Harden to take a jumper that clanked off the rim, then scored a basket on the other end, and then forced another Harden miss on a drive.
Then he hit two free throws and a three to stretch the Heat’s lead from 10 to 15 in the final two minutes.
“I’m getting better and better every game,” Oladipo said.
Spoelstra, undeterred by Philadelphia’s use of smaller lineups, used Dwayne Dedmon, and with pretty good results (seven points, five rebounds in 11 minutes).
Caleb Martin was a help on defense, as usual, and chipped in six points.
Robinson, who scored 27 in the playoff opener against Atlanta, didn’t play until the final minute, with the outcome already decided.
▪ Tyrese Maxey is giving the Heat fits, but Harden again wasn’t a big factor in the second half, and nobody else could give Maxey enough help.
Maxey, lightning quick, continuously got by his defender on a 34-point night. At one point, he scored 11 in a row during a 23-point second half in which he shot 7 for 12.
But Danny Green shot 1 for 10 and James Harden’s postseason continues to underwhelm. His numbers were decent in Game 2 (20 points, nine assists, 7 for 7 from the line, three turnovers), but the efficiency isn’t there.
Harden wasn’t awful in Game 2, but he had only one really good stretch, a 12-point second quarter burst.
After scoring just four points on 1 for 4 shooting in the second half of Game 1, he again scored just four points (on 1 for 5 shooting) in the second half of Game 2.
Harden -- who finished 6 of 15 from the field and 1 for 5 on threes -- tried to be aggressive in the fourth quarter, but with little success, missing two midrange shots and forcing an errant three.
At one point early in the second quarter, Harden had as many turnovers in the series as points (eight apiece), after having five of each in Game 1.
“I want Harden to see that wall,” Spoelstra said in audio captured by TNT.
Max Strus, PJ Tucker, Victor Oladipo all forced Harden to settle for long jumpers at various points. Even when Harden got past an initial defender, a second often was waiting.
“They’re doing a good job of putting two on the ball and trying to deny me the entire court,” Harden said. “If they’re going to deny me, it gives our guys more space to be aggressive. Give them credit.”
Harden got past Oladipo a few times but no longer is able to consistently hit his step back mid-range shooter. And Oladipo usually recovered to contest the shot.
Oladipo said the approach on Harden is “just make it tough on him and give him different looks.”
▪ The 76ers had some success with their small lineup but their three-point shooting continues to betray them, and Doc Rivers keeps sticking with DeAndre Jordan.
After shooting 6 for 34 on threes in Game 1, the 76ers shot just 8 for 30 (26.7 percent) on threes in Game 2.
“I liked the shots,” Rivers said. “We had wide open looks. Eight for 30 with the looks you’re getting is tough. They were 14 for 29 on threes. We were 8 for 30. That’s the game right there.”
As for Jordan, the 76ers were outscored by nine points during his 13 minutes. Philadelphia is now a minus 31 in his 30 minutes in this series.
Down 52-38, Philadelphia went to a lineup with nobody taller than 6-7 George Niang. With the floor spread, Maxey and Harden thrived with that lineup and Philadelphia went on a 9-0 run before going to the half down 10.
The Heat can’t stop Maxey off the dribble, but that hasn’t mattered because of Joel Embiid’s absence and the Heat’s ability to limit most everyone else.
And Niang - who fits those smaller lineups - fouled out with eight minutes left.
The Heat disrupted Philadelphia with selective use of zone defense, including one sequence to start the fourth quarter, when the 76ers committed a 24-second violation.
The 76ers opened the fourth quarter shooting 1 for 10.
▪ Adebayo is fully capitalizing on the absence of Embiid.
With the 76ers MVP candidate back in Philadelphia with an orbital injury and semi-concussion, Adebayo has put together two very good games: 24 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals in Game 1, and 23 points, 9 rebounds, three assists and a steal in Game 2.
He shot 7 for 11 from the field after shooting 8 for 10 in Game 1. Adebayo was 9 for 11 on free throws in Game 2, after shooting 8 for 8 in Game 1.
“There’s so many opinions about Bam and how he needs to play,” Spoelstra said. “He has as many responsibilities for our team as Kyle Lowry does from the point guard position. ...
“It’s reading the game and understanding what’s required on that possession. That’s where he has shown the most growth and I think that was on display tonight.”
As for Embiid, he told TNT’s Chris Haynes that he was able to look at his cell phone, without the light bothering him, for the first time on Tuesday, and that there’s no timetable for his return.
Asked if Embiid could play Friday in Game 3 in Philadelphia, Rivers said he looked good on Facetime but “he’s got so many steps to go through. I don’t think he’s cleared any of them.”
He will be re-evaluated on Thursday. ESPN has reported there’s a possibility he could play Friday or Sunday.
Spoelstra said it would be “irreponsible” to not prepare for the possibility of Embiid playing.
This story was originally published May 4, 2022 at 10:48 PM.
