Heat, Sixers clash in south Philly

Published November 20, 2014

The Miami Heat try to continue their recent mastery of the Philadelphia 76ers this evening when the division leaders square off at Wells Fargo Center.

Miami has already beaten the Sixers twice this season and has won nine straight overall in the series dating back to a loss in Philadelphia back on March 15, 2009. The Heat have also won four straight after losing six in a row in the City of Brotherly Love.

Southeast Division-leading Miami comes into tonight's affair riding a rare losing streak after falling 106-102 to a Chicago Bulls team that was playing without reigning league MVP Derrick Rose on Wednesday.

Dwyane Wade scored 36 points and LeBron James had 35 in the loss. Miami, which sits at 31-11 on the year and trails only Chicago in the Eastern Conference standings, was coming off of consecutive overtime games, beating Indiana on Saturday before falling to Orlando on Tuesday

"I'm not concerned," Wade said. "I just want us to play better as a group. ... I don't want us to lose confidence."

Miami has now lost four in a row on the road and will conclude a three-game trek tonight. The team hasn't dropped five consecutive games away from home since losing their final nine of 2007-08.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, is also licking its wounds following a 111-94 defeat at the hands of the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

Evan Turner's game-high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting were not enough for Philadelphia. Jrue Holiday netted 17 points and Elton Brand donated 16 for the Atlantic Division-leading Sixers, who saw a three-game winning streak come to an end.

"They hit shots. All the momentum rolled their way," said Turner. "They just had a great rhythm all night."

76ers center Spencer Hawes committed five fouls while playing limited minutes in his long-anticipated return to the starting lineup.

The 23-year-old had missed the Sixers' previous 17 games with a strained left Achilles after missing 11 earlier in the season with both the Achilles injury and a back issue.

Philadelphia, which will visit Chicago on Saturday, is 16-8 in its building this season.

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