Sixers can’t overcome turnovers, Jimmy Butler in a 101-99 loss to the Miami Heat

Doc Rivers was asked what he learned about the 76ers since last season’s second-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat.

“We’re different; we’re better,” he said before Monday’s 101-99 loss to the Heat. “I don’t need to talk about what we learned; like, we’re much better.

“We’re a better team than we were last year. We know that. We’re tougher.”

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Perhaps.

But they were doomed by Jimmy Butler and their 20 turnovers.

The former Sixer split a pair of foul shots to give Miami a 101-99 cushion with 8.8 seconds left. The Sixers called a timeout after Joel Embiid grabbed the rebound following Butler’s missed second foul shot. However, the Heat escaped with the victory after James Harden missed an open three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Yeah, it just back rimmed,” Harden said of the shot. “It felt real good coming off my hands, though. I was already celebrating before. But it’s just one of those games. A tough-fought game.”

And no one was tougher than Butler.

The small forward finished with team highs of 23 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. Like he did during his one season in Philly, the six-time All-Star found a way to come through in the clutch.

He scored and gave the Heat a 100-99 lead on a spinning, in-the-air reverse layup with 1 minute, 28 seconds remaining. Then he grabbed the defensive rebound after Bam Adebayo blocked Embiid’s shot with 29.4 seconds left.

“I work on that type [of] stuff every day,” Butler said. “ ... I love to play this game. I love to compete with these guys. But it’s always much more fun whenever we win.”

His efforts enabled the Heat (33-29) to snap a four-game skid. Meanwhile, the Sixers (39-21) suffered their second consecutive loss after winning five straight. They dropped four games behind the first-place Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference standings with 22 left.

The third-place Sixers couldn’t overcome what resembled an early hangover from Saturday’s 110-107 loss to the second-place Boston Celtics.

They were outhustled for most of the game. And the Sixers couldn’t get much offensive production from Tobias Harris and De’Anthony Melton.

Harris finished with two points on 1-for-4 shooting in 34:30 of action. He airballed what would have been a go-ahead three-pointer with 2:12 left. Meanwhile, Melton, who made his first shot, had six points on 2-for-8 shooting. The shooting guard did finish with two blocks and one steal.

All those things added up in the loss.

But Rivers will point to Tyrese Maxey having another year of experience as a third-year guard. He’ll mention that the Sixers added Melton in a draft-night trade. They also signed P.J. Tucker away from the Heat n free agency. And the Sixers brought in Jalen McDaniels from the Charlotte Hornets in a four-team deal at the Feb. 8 trade deadline.

Melton “has helped us,” Rivers said. “Tuck has helped us. Jalen will help us. We’re just a better basketball team.”

Monday’s game marked the teams’ first meeting since Miami won in six games to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. After the series, the Sixers were determined to get tougher then and added much-needed toughness.

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Other offseason additions of Montrezl Harrell and Danuel House Jr. were other offseason additions.

All that added toughness didn’t help them against the Heat no matter how much Rivers said they’ve improved.

But Maxey did bounc back from Saturday’s offensive shortcomings with 23 points on 8-for-16 shooting — including making 4 of 7 three-pointers — before fouling out with 3:21 left. Harden added 20 points and a game-high 12 assists. Embiid had game highs of 27 points and 12 rebounds.

Inconsistent is the best way to describe Maxey’s role as the Sixers’ sixth man. He made just 4 of 10 shots against the Celtics on Saturday. But the Sixers aren’t ready to insert him back into the starting lineup as a way for him to regain his rhythm.

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“I think we will figure that out,” Rivers said before the game. “I think it’s interesting. You are looking at one guy. We are looking at our team’s success.”

The Sixers are 19-8 when Melton starts in place of Maxey alongside Harden, Harris, Tucker, and Embiid.

“So we’re playing really well,” Rivers said. “So we’re not focusing on the one guy. We focus on how the team is playing and winning.

“And clearly we want him to do better. Be more consistent would be a better way of putting that.”

Maxey remained in the game Monday despite rolling his ankle twice.