Heat roll past 76ers 120-85 in Game 5, take 3-2 series lead

Sure, actually.

It was that kind of night time for the Warmth, who – even with out everybody getting shoulder rubs – are feeling fairly good about their playoff prospects once more.

Jimmy Butler scored 23 factors, Max Strus added 19 factors and 10 rebounds, and the Warmth moved one win away from a visit to the Japanese Convention finals by topping the Philadelphia 76ers 120-85 on Tuesday.

The 35-point margin of victory matched the most important up to now on this 12 months’s playoffs – Philadelphia beat Toronto by 35 within the series-clincher of that first-round matchup – and matched the second-largest in Warmth postseason historical past.

“They have been simply extra bodily,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers stated. “We did not run something. We did not run our stuff very properly. We performed at a snail’s tempo … the whole lot they did tonight was more durable and higher. Their stuff was higher, their power was higher.”

Victor Oladipo scored 13 for Miami, which bought 12 from Bam Adebayo and 10 apiece from Tyler Herro and P.J. Tucker. The highest-seeded Warmth now lead the East semifinal collection 3-2, and improved to an NBA-best 6-0 at residence in these playoffs.

Joel Embiid scored 17 factors for fourth-seeded Philadelphia, which bought 14 from James Harden and 12 from Tobias Harris. The 76ers have been down by 15 going into the fourth quarter, then gave up 12 consecutive factors to open the interval.

“Tonight, we weren’t targeted sufficient,” Embiid stated.

Sport 6 is in Philadelphia on Thursday, win-or-else for the 76ers, an opportunity to maneuver on for the Warmth.

“We’re able to it, if we get some stops,” Butler stated. “It is a arduous place to play.”

So is Miami.

Tyrese Maxey made a deep 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left within the third to drag Philadelphia inside 81-66. No matter hope remained for the 76ers in that second was short-lived.

A jumper from Herro after which 5 straight factors from Strus have been the beginning of Miami’s game-sealing flurry that opened the fourth. A 3-point play from Adebayo pushed the result in 25, at which level Embiid checked out with the result clearly now not in query.

“It is only one sport,” Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra stated. “They realize it. We all know it.”

It was a troublesome night time all the best way round for the Sixers, particularly for Embiid – their greatest participant, already sporting a masks to guard a facial fracture and coping with a big thumb damage.

Embiid bought shaken up within the first quarter when he tried to dive into some baseline seats whereas making an attempt to save lots of a free ball. He doubled over shortly afterward, grabbing at his again.

He remained within the sport after that scare.

He additionally remained within the sport after the following scare, which was a lot worse.

It got here halfway via the second quarter, when Miami’s Dewayne Dedmon missed a shot and Embiid grabbed the rebound. Dedmon, flailing for the ball, made contact with it – and wound up pushing it again into Embiid’s mask-covered face.

“Fairly painful,” Embiid stated.

Embiid misplaced the ball and went down apparent discomfort, overlaying his face with each arms. Oladipo picked up the ball and scored to make it 42-31, however Embiid writhing was of a lot larger significance to the 76ers than giving up two factors. Embiid remained down for a number of moments, earlier than making his approach again to the Philadelphia bench and getting tended to by medical doctors.

“He is powerful,” Rivers stated. “I feel he knew going into all this that there is going to be a pair occasions when he will get hit within the face. It may occur. … He bought up and stated he was tremendous, after some time.”

All of the second-half highlights belonged to Miami, excluding one second stolen by courtside common DJ Khaled.

After the ball went out of bounds close to his seat, Khaled grabbed the ball from a safety guard, handed it to Strus, then headed to the scorer’s desk whereas waving his arms and asking the followers to make some noise. And earlier than returning to his courtside seat, the rapper gave Spoelstra a shoulder therapeutic massage.

“I used to be humbled to be part of that second,” Spoelstra stated. “He is such an incredible fan there. Over time, I’ve stated hey a couple of occasions, however that was the most effective interplay. That was real. It was cool.”

TIP-INS

76ers: None of Philadelphia’s starters performed within the remaining 8:18. … Maxey, who has been nice for almost all of this collection, shot 2 for 10. … Georges Niang was 0 for five, all of these pictures from 3-point vary, paying homage to his 0-for-7 stat line – all on 3s – in Sport 1.

Warmth: After taking pictures 14 for 65 from 3-point vary within the two losses at Philadelphia (21.5%), the Warmth shot 13 for 33 from deep on Tuesday (39.4%). … Miami improved to 18-4 all-time in Sport 5s at residence. … The Warmth outrebounded Philadelphia 46-36. … Miami is certainly one of two groups unbeaten at residence in these playoffs. Golden State is 5-0.

THE ODDS

All-time in best-of-seven collection, getting into this spherical, groups that gained Sport 1 of a matchup in the end prevail 75.6% of the time. Sport 1 winners at residence, 85% of the time. Groups that begin a collection with a 2-0 lead, 92.4% of the time. And groups that win Sport 5 for a 3-2 collection lead wind up advancing 82.2% of the time. All these stats favor Miami, clearly.

SILVER VISITS

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver attended the sport, seated with Ahmad Rashad – whose ties to the league return many years, primarily for his years as host and govt producer of “NBA Inside Stuff.” Additionally within the crowd: NBA champion Mike Miller of the Warmth, and longtime baseball star, Miami native and Minnesota Timberwolves co-minority proprietor Alex Rodriguez.

UP NEXT

Sport 6 is Thursday in Philadelphia.