Kel’el Ware’s 19 points and career-high 17 rebounds helped lead a makeshift Miami Heat lineup to a 117-105 home win on Monday over the slumping Philadelphia 76ers, who lost their 12th straight game.
Miami (36-43) rebounded from a two-game skid and won without Bam Adebayo, who was scratched from the lineup due to back spasms. The Heat moved within a half-game of the ninth-place Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference play-in race.
Adebayo’s absence provided Ware the opportunity to start at center, and he delivered his highest-scoring performance since March 15. Ware’s personal-best work on the glass also gave him his second double-double in the last three games.
Ware was one of four Heat starters to score in double-figures, including Tyler Herro with 20 points. Herro returned from a thigh contusion and shot 2-of-4 from 3-point range en route to his team high in scoring, but also committed seven turnovers.
One of Herro’s turnovers came amid an 11-0 Philadelphia run midway through the third period.
After trailing by as many as 14 in the second quarter, the Sixers (23-56) took the lead on that tear, which included a pair of 3-pointers from Quentin Grimes and another triple from Lonnie Walker IV.
Walker and Grimes each scored 29 points to lead all scorers, marking a season high for Walker. Adem Bona added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Sixers.
After Philadelphia battled back to pull ahead in the third quarter, Miami rallied in the fourth.
Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s 3-pointer began a 19-5 Miami run that turned a one-point deficit into a 13-point lead. The spurt proved pivotal as the Heat led the rest of the way.
Duncan Robinson, who led Miami with 21 points, fueled the Heat reserves in outscoring Philadelphia’s 46-17. Davion Mitchell scored 12 points and doled out nine assists and Kyle Anderson had eight points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Pelle Larsson scored 12 for the Miami starters, with Alec Burks adding 11.
–Field Level Media
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