76ers at Heat
The Miami Heat look to start moving forward again after a few difficult days on and off the court when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. The Heat acquired sharp-shooting guard Goran Dragic on Thursday before learning they would be without All-Star Chris Bosh for the rest of the season and dropping a 105-91 decision to injury-depleted New Orleans two days later. Miami hopes to take advantage of Philadelphia, which is tied with Minnesota for the second-least wins in the league.
Dragic scored 12 in his debut with the Heat on Saturday after the team announced Bosh was lost due to blood clots in his lungs. “One of my biggest priorities will be to make Goran feel comfortable, as soon as we can with the team and what we’re trying to do,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra told the Sun Sentinel. The 76ers made 13 from 3-point range, one away from their season high, Sunday despite losing 103-98 at Orlando.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, Sun Sports (Miami)
ABOUT THE 76ERS (12-43): JaKarr Sampson recorded 14 of his career-high 16 points in the fourth quarter as Philadelphia cut a 12-point deficit to one before succumbing Sunday. Robert Covington is the leading active scorer after posting at least 16 points in six of the last seven games while making 21 shots combined from behind the 3-point arc. Nerlens Noel has scored in double figures in seven of the last nine games while Jason Richardson totaled 14 points in his first two games since missing two years with a knee injury.
ABOUT THE HEAT (23-31): Miami is in a six-team battle for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference and has lost five of its last seven games with inconsistency on the offensive end, averaging 92.2 points in the defeats. The Heat will have to fill in for the loss of Bosh’s 21.1 points and seven boards, and must keep fellow All-Star Dwyane Wade (21.1 points, 5.2 assists) healthy. Luol Deng also scores 14.1 per game and will try to find a rhythm with Dragic, who was averaging 16.2 points with Phoenix before the trade.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Miami C Hassan Whiteside is averaging 13.3 points, 13 rebounds and 2.3 blocks over the last three games.
2. Philadelphia PG Isaiah Canaan made four 3-pointers and scored 14 points in his debut for the team after being acquired from Houston on Thursday.
3. The 76ers have won in their last two visits to Miami, including a 91-87 triumph on Dec. 23 this season.