76ers at Heat
Miami standout Jimmy Butler hasn't fared well against his former teammates this season but gets a third chance when the Heat host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. Butler averaged 12.5 points as the teams split two meetings in Philadelphia, scoring 11 in a 113-86 loss Nov. 23 and 14 in a 108-104 victory Dec. 18.
Butler scored 20 points in Friday's 113-112 home win over the Indiana Pacers but it was point guard Goran Dragic who made the decisive shot with 6.8 seconds remaining. "Not every game is going to be pretty. Not every game you'll make shots," Dragic told reporters after Miami improved its NBA-best home record to 14-1. "You need to hustle and play defense and attack with offensive rebounds." Philadelphia fell 98-97 to the Orlando Magic on Friday in the opener of a four-game road trip and trailed by 11 with 1:49 left before a strong final flurry came up short. "I really don't even care about it. I don't believe that we should have been in that position," 76ers coach Brett Brown told reporters. "I think it's hollow praise to go there. I'm not going there."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS Sun (Miami)
ABOUT THE 76ERS (23-11): Center Joel Embiid had 24 points and 11 rebounds against the Magic and he missed a desperation 30-footer at the buzzer that could have stolen a victory. Embiid has scored 20 or more points in his last nine appearances and has posted a double-double in 13 of his past 15 contests. Forward Tobias Harris contributed 24 points and 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the campaign and is averaging 27 points over the past three games.
ABOUT THE HEAT (23-8): Butler was 3-of-11 shooting against Indiana but continually got to the free-throw line and made 14-of-15 attempts while also recording nine rebounds and six assists. "Just keep attacking and get to the line and be the player I am," Butler said during a postgame television interview. "Get everybody involved, guard a little bit and help us win." Center Bam Adebayo registered 18 points and 15 rebounds for his eighth double-double in 10 games and rookie guard Kendrick Nunn tallied 17 points.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. G Josh Richardson, who was obtained in the sign-and-trade deal that sent Butler to the Heat, is averaging 24.5 points versus Miami this season.
2. Miami SF Duncan Robinson made six 3-pointers Friday to raise his total to 101, reaching 100 in 31 games - fastest in franchise history to supplant Damon Jones (35 games in 2004-05).
3. Philadelphia PF Al Horford is 6-of-20 shooting over the past two games.