Best and worst from Sixers-Heat: Inexcusable loss, Matisse Thybulle’s struggles, Tyrese Maxey’s effort and more
Maxey finished with a game-high 27 points, making 11 of 15 shots. Fifteen of his points came after intermission.
Sixers point guard Tyrese Maxey reacts after a foul was called on him playing the Heat during the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Best performance: Gabe Vincent torched the Sixers just like he torched Team USA while playing for the Nigeria in an international exhibition game this summer. On Wednesday, he got his fourth start of the NBA season due to Miami only having 10 available players. He responded by scoring a career-high 26 points while making 7 of 12 three-pointers. He was a game-best plus 21.
Worst performance: Matisse Thybulle gets this on a night when he was a game-worst minus 23 and benched in the fourth quarter. The Sixers small forward failed to score a point while missing all five of his shots, including three three-pointers. He did have two blocks and one steal. But aside from those plays, he wasn’t impactful.
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Best performance in a loss: Tyrese Maxey tried his best to will the Sixers to a victory. The second-year point guard finished with a game-high 27 points while making 11 of 15 shots. Fifteen of his points came after intermission.
Best defensive performance: Danny Green’s play was one of the Sixers’ few bright spots. He finished with a season-high five steals in a reserve role. He also was a team-best plus 11 while finishing with nine points and six rebounds.
Worst statistic:The Sixers struggled to make shots in the first quarter. They made only 6 of 17 (35.3%) shots, including 2-for-9 (22.2%) on three-pointers.
Best statistic: The Heat were raining threes. They made 18 of 44 (40.9%).
Worst of the worst: The Sixers should be embarrassed by Wednesday’s loss. They faced a team team with only 10 available players due to injuries and Caleb Martin being in the COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Four-time All-Star Jimmy Butler (tailbone contusion), one-time All-Star Bam Adebayo (right thumb reconstruction), Markieff Morris (whiplash), Victor Oladipo (right knee recovery) and Tyler Herro (right quad contusion) missed the game. The Sixers should have posted a blowout victory.
Sixers Joel Embiid can’t reach the ball in front of Heats Dewayne Dedmon during the 3rd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, December 15, 2021.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers head coach Doc Rivers during a time-out against the Heat during the 3rd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, December 15, 2021.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Heats Gabe Vincent gets by Sixers Tyrese Maxey during the 3rd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, December 15, 2021.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers Seth Curry throws a pass to Shake Milton in font of the Heats Kyle Lowry during the 3rd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, December 15, 2021.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers Joel Embiid can’t reach the ball in front of Heats Dewayne Dedmon during the 3rd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, December 15, 2021.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers Danny Green tries to block Heats Kyle Lowry during the 4th quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, December 15, 2021. The Heat beats the Sixers 101-96.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers Tyrese Maxey fouls Heats Kyle Lowry during the 4th quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, December 15, 2021. The Heat beat the Sixers 101-96.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers Joel Embiid throws a pass over Heats P.J. Tucker during the 2nd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, December 15, 2021.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers Tyrese Maxey drives on Heats Marcus Garrett during the 2nd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, December 15, 2021.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers Joel Embiid foules Heats Kyle Lowry during the 2nd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, December 15, 2021.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers Danny Green shoots over Heats Max Strus during the 1st quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, December 15, 2021.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers Tyrese Maxey reacts after a foul was called on him playing the Heat during the 3rd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, December 15, 2021.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
As the Sixers beat reporter, I provide daily coverage, perspective, a social media presence and long-form takeout pieces about one of the NBA's young emerging teams.