MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Monday night’s 119-113 victory to the Philadelphia 76ers:
– What does it mean to beat the 76ers in the absence of Joel Embiid?
– Not much.
– But to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, that wasn’t what this was about.
– It was about closing the homestand at 3-1.
– And continuing the roll now has it at six victories in the past eight.
– “For us,” Spoelstra said, “this is about bringing a great competitive disposition.”
– The Heat did just that.
– With Bam Adebayo setting the defensive disposition from the outset.
– And Jaime Jaquez Jr. providing the attack mentality on the other end.
– Of course, it helped that the 76ers couldn’t make a shot early.
– Particularly Tyrese Maxey, who had an 0-for-9 first half.
– But just as these weren’t the true 76ers, this wasn’t the true Heat.
– Not with Jimmy Butler still out.
– Not with Haywood Highsmith and Josh Richardson also not available.
– And now when losing Caleb Martin in the first period with an ankle sprain.
– No matter, not with a challenging five-game western swing up next.
– Starting Thursday against the Warriors.
– With Butler missing his third consecutive game, the Heat again opened with Jaquez in his place.
– With the starting lineup rounded out by Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry and Martin.
– Adebayo’s first defensive rebound put him in fifth place on the Heat all-time list.
– Butler was listed out again with a calf strain, but also took ill over the weekend.
– Also out for the Heat were Highsmith (illness) and Richardson (back).
– Paul Reed started for the 76ers in place of sidelined Embiid (ankle).
– Duncan Robinson played as the Heat’s first reserve.
– Robinson addressed the crowd pregame with holiday wishes.
– Robinson’s sixth 3-point attempt moved him past Tim Hardaway’s Heat career record.
– Kevin Love played as the Heat’s second reserve.
– Then, amid the lack of three rotation players, with Jamal Cain following.
– And then even RJ Hampton.
– Asked pregame about Maxey, Spoelstra compared him to Herro.
– “This is the next wave of talent that you’re seeing in this league,” Spoelstra said, “and they’re figuring out how to really impact winning.”
– Of Lowry still finding a way at 37, 76ers coach Nick Nurse, who coached Lowry in Toronto, said. “He can’t help himself. When the ball goes up, deep down inside he just competes.”
– Nurse mentioned how even when he tried to sit Lowry in Toronto it didn’t always work.
– “He crashed through all those plans,” Nurse said.
– The Heat entered 11-2 in Christmas games, on an eight-game Christmas winning streak.
– The 76ers had stood as the lone Eastern Conference team the Heat had yet to face this season.
