With the help of a rejuvenated Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat secured a close Game 2 victory Monday night in Philadelphia.
Monday night, Father Prime made a comeback and it was a sweet victory for the Miami Heat. The Philadelphia 76ers couldn’t handle the Heat, literally, as they dropped Game 2 at home, 113-103.
This game had a similar first half as Game 1, but saw more pressure on Philly’s shooters from the get-go. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had emphasized the importance of leaving no cushion between the shooters and limiting Rookie of the Year candidate Ben Simmons‘ assists.
It certainly paid off as the added pressure from tip-off never let up until the end.
Of course, it definitely does not hurt when a three-time NBA champion like Dwyane Wade is on your side. Experience dominated in Game 2 and Miami found the perfect answer to adjust to the 76ers’ fast-paced offense.
The Heat ran the same starting lineup it had in Game 1, but the immediate difference was their pace and how they changed the game to their own speed.
Goran Dragic (20 points, 8-of-14 shooting) started the game more aggressive, finding the open slots and demanding immediate offensive attention. Meanwhile, James Johnson added 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting.
Wade, however, was the big story, leading the way with a scorching, season-high 28 points in 26 minutes off the bench. He shot 11-for-16 from the floor, passed Larry Bird for 10th on the all-time playoff scoring list and chipped in seven rebounds, three assists and two steals for good measure.
Dwyane Wade found his shooting touch en route to a season-high 28 points & a big #NBAPlayoffs road W! @MiamiHEAT/@sixers tied at 1 game apiece. pic.twitter.com/z6Ed1T2H9r
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2018
The Philadelphia crowd was a major issue for Miami early on. The Wells Fargo Center’s screams never died as the 76ers contested Miami’s early run.
Second chance points were also killing the Heat despite a quick lead in the first. The Sixers were sluggish from behind the arc, starting off 1-for-8, but quickly readjusted themselves with the aforementioned second-chance points, notching 12 early on.
Despite a hard-fought comeback by Philadelphia in the fourth quarter, Miami secured the win. Here’s what we learned after four quarters in Game 2.