The Miami Heat are bracing for a high-stakes clash against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, and head coach Erik Spoelstra made the magnitude of the game clear.
Speaking after Monday’s 117-105 win over Philadelphia, Spoelstra said, “It’s going to feel like a playoff game, and that’s fun,” while urging his team to embrace the competitive nature of the Eastern Conference play-in race.
The victory over the 76ers pushed Miami (36-43) within half a game of Chicago (36-42) for the No. 9 seed, with both teams fighting to secure home-court advantage in the 9-10 play-in matchup.
Spoelstra highlighted the tight standings across the league and challenged his roster to stay focused, stating, “You’re not above it, and just embrace it and enjoy it.”
Duncan Robinson provided the scoring punch against Philadelphia, tallying 21 points and hitting five threes, including 12 points in the fourth quarter.
The Heat went on a 16-3 run to break a 91-all tie, and Robinson’s final three-pointer with 4:22 remaining gave Miami its largest lead of the night.
Tyler Herro added 20 points, while rookie big man Kel’el Ware delivered 19 points and 17 rebounds, helping the Heat dominate the paint without Bam Adebayo, Kevin Love, or Andrew Wiggins.
Davion Mitchell chipped in with 12 points and nine assists off the bench, registering a +27 plus-minus in 26 minutes of action.
Miami’s bench outscored Philadelphia’s reserves 46-17, with Pelle Larsson also contributing 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
The Heat recorded 26 assists on 45 made field goals, showcasing increased ball movement despite missing three rotation players.
Miami shot 50.6% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc, while outrebounding the Sixers 52-45.
Philadelphia, now eliminated from postseason contention, extended its losing streak to 12 games and fell to 23-56 on the season.
The 76ers again played without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, and started four players who were not on their opening night roster.
Lonnie Walker IV and Quentin Grimes each scored 29 for Philadelphia, combining to shoot 21-of-43 from the field.
Adem Bona recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, but the Sixers managed only 22 points in the fourth quarter and went scoreless over the final 2:38.
Jared Butler and rookie Colin Castleton saw extended minutes for head coach Nick Nurse, who has turned to developmental pieces late in a lost season.
The Heat’s defense tightened down the stretch, closing the game on an 8-0 run and holding the Sixers to 43.2% shooting overall.
Spoelstra emphasized that the upcoming game against the Bulls isn’t just another regular-season contest, especially with both teams within one loss of falling out of home-court play-in position.
The Bulls have won three straight and sit ninth in the East at 36-42, just ahead of the Heat by half a game.
Wednesday’s matchup in Chicago could determine which team hosts the 9-10 play-in game, making it one of the most consequential games of Miami’s season.
