76ers at Heat
THE STORY: In the end, the Philadelphia 76ers just decided that they were not ready to stop playing basketball this season. The Miami Heat don’t mind, they’ll just go ahead and win the series in front of their home fans instead. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics will sit at home and get plenty of rest while they await the winner. After a wild finish to Game 4, the Heat will take one more stab at closing out the 76ers when the teams meet in Miami on Wednesday for Game 5.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE HEAT: It looked as though Miami would close out the series in the final minutes on Sunday but then just laid down as the 76ers surged to the lead. Miami was up, 82-76, with 1:35 left before the 76ers scored the final 10 points to steal an 86-82 triumph and send the series back to Florida. LeBron James collected 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists but had his tying layup attempted blocked with three seconds left by Elton Brand. Dwyane Wade, who finished with 22 points and eight boards, was off on his jumper with 27 seconds left that would have stretched the Heat lead back to three points. After rallying back from a 16-point first-half deficit to take the lead it the fourth quarter, it just looked like Miami had run out of gas in the final minute.
ABOUT THE 76ERS: With its collective back against the wall, Philadelphia stepped up. Evan Turner and Louis Williams scored 17 points apiece off the bench and each contributed during that final rally. Turner scored the first basket of the run and sealed it at the free throw line and Williams buried a go-ahead 3-pointer with eight seconds left. Jrue Holiday, who scored 10 points, had hit a 3-pointer on the previous possession to bring the 76ers within a point. Attempting to become the first team in NBA history to erase a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series, Philadelphia would force the series back to its own arena if it can find a way to win Game 5.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Mike Bibby was held scoreless on 0-of-6 shooting on Sunday and is just 6 of 27 from the floor in the series for the Heat. Brand has recorded a double-double in each of the last two games for the 76ers.
KEY STATISTIC: Bench scoring. The Philadelphia reserves outscored Miami’s bench 36-16 in Game 4 despite getting only two points out of Thaddeus Young.
LAST WORD: “We’re still breathing,” Brand said. “Now we’re going there trying to get another one. We proved we could beat them.”