Massive defense, return of 3’s lift Miami Heat to Game 5 rout & 3-2 series lead over 76ers | Opinion
Tuesday began the biggest two-night stand in the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers’ shared history -- the first time both teams have hosted a pivotal Game 5 on back-to-back nights with their playoff series tied and teetering at 2-2.
The Heat impressively took care of business at home.
Now what you got, Panthers?
Miami parlayed the home court to a much-needed win, 120-85, and a 3-2 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal with the Philadelphia 76ers. It tied the second-biggest margin of victory in Heat postseason history.
The rout was such, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra even earned a surprise shoulder rub from Heat superfan DJ Khaled, seated courtside near the Miami bench.
“That was awesome to be a part of that moment,” Spoelstra said. “That was fun.”
“We did what we were supposed to do once again,” said Jimmy Butler. who scored 23. “Win at home.”
Thirty miles north in Sunrise, the Cats will try do get the same home lift Wednesday.
The two teams have never played a postseason home game on the same day, although that streak could end this Sunday, dramatically, if there is a Game 7 for both.
Heat and Panthers had not even played a home playoff game on consecutive days since April 24-25, 1997 -- until this series. Tuesday/Wednesday is the teams’ third home back-to-back this month, part coincidental, and partly a product of both being No. 1 seeds.
Miami heads back up to Philadelphia for Game 6 Thursday, with a home Game 7 in the pocket if needed.
After consecutive losses in Philly, the Heat sizzled in the downtown bayside arena.
“They were so much more engaged and physical than us,” said Sixers coach Doc Rivers. “We played at a snail’s pace. Everything they did tonight was harder and better.”
Miami’s recent 3-point shooting touch returned, with a 13-for-33 night from beyond the arc after the Heat had been a dismal 14-for-65 combined the two previous games on the road.
Mostly, Miami tightened defensively, limiting the Sixers to 36.9 percent shooting -- with Bam Adebayo leading an effort that held MVP finalist Joel Embiid to 17 points, most of them too late. James Harden managed only 14.
“Bam did so many things that impacted the win,” Spoelstra said. “That’s winning basketball. He is the heart and soul of our team.”
The Heat was without starting point guard Kyle Lowry, out again after reinjuring his hamstring in Game 4.
No matter.
Enough went right besides the comeback of the 3’s and defense. Butler led Miami with 23 points, giving him 96 over the past three games. Max Strus had 19 with four 3’s and also 10 rebounds (his first double-double) as the backcourt amped up its offensive output. Five others were in double figures.
Butler joked that Philly has yet to “blitz” him with double coverage.
“I’m obviously not that good a player,” he said.
An 18-4 Heat run to start the fourth quarter ended all doubt.
There was even a Duncan Robinson sighting! He snuck in for 14 minutes after not playing since the opener of the first round series vs. Atlanta. Made a 3, scored four points.
The Heat entered this Tuesday night 7-7 all-time in best-of-seven Game 5s. When they win, they are 5-2 in going on to win the series, including four straight advances. When they lose, they are 3-4.
NBA analyst Amin Elhassan said on the Dan Le Batard Show podcast Tuesday he he thought Adebayo was playing “scared” in his matchup with the bigger Embiid. The timing of the criticism seemed odd, as Adebayo had scored 21 on 9-for-12 shooting the previous game. He scored 12 Wednesday on 4-for-7 shooting, his attention mostly on the defensive end.
It also bears noting, again, that Miami’s ice-cold 3-point shooting in Game 3 and 4 losses in Philly shaped this series and had it 2-2 far more than any shortcoming on Adebayo’s part.
The No. 1 team in 3-point shooting during the regular season, Miami had shot under 25 percent on 3s in only six of 91 games combined this entire season -- and two had been the past two games in a spectacularly ill-timed cold spell.
Anything close to their season average on 3s the previous two games and the Heat likely would have been up 3-1 entering Tuesday, with Adebayo’s performance nobody’s narrative.
At any rate, back home and just in time, Miami’s 3-point shot was back, Game 5 turned because of it, and the Heat -- unbeaten on their floor this postseason -- is now one win from a spot in the Eastern Conference finals.
This story was originally published May 10, 2022 at 9:54 PM.
