PHILADELPHIA — The Miami Heat had the 28th-ranked clutch offense in the league this year, a major warning sign about the team’s ability to execute throughout a slow-paced playoff game. Miami built a 12-point lead on the strength of a tricky zone defense that flummoxed the 76ers and created easy chances in transition. Once Philadelphia adapted, Miami just couldn’t generate enough scoring. Other than Tyler Herro, Miami had next to no offensive creation, and that allowed Philadelphia to inch past them at the end.
The Heat will get the winner of tonight’s game between the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night in Miami, with the winner moving on to play the Boston Celtics in the first round. However, Jimmy Butler appeared to hurt himself at the end of the first quarter when Kelly Oubre Jr. fouled him in transition, and Terry Rozier, the quick guard acquired in January for Kyle Lowry, has missed five consecutive games with a neck injury. Butler hardly moved during some late Miami possessions, shooting 5-for-18 for the night. If Butler is compromised and Rozier is unavailable, the Heat are going to need a little magic to get into the playoffs, and a lot to go further.
