Once again, the Philadelphia 76ers let a game slip away on Saturday night as they fell to the Miami Heat in overtime 117-116. They made a lot of mistakes late and it cost them another winnable game.
The Sixers had stretches where they played well and then there were other stretches that allowed the Heat to really play their style and get what they wanted offensively. That inconsistency killed them down the stretch as they let another one slip away.
“We were right there,” said Ben Simmons. “It starts in the first quarter. We’ve got to carry the same energy all the way through. We can’t wait for the last minute to pick it up.”
Philadelphia led by five after the first quarter and then maintained that five-point lead heading into halftime, but then they were outscored by 11 in the third quarter, then had a chance to win the game late, and then made some mistakes down the stretch that blew it.
“There were some plays throughout the game that I wish we had back,” said Josh Richardson. “It was a tough game versus a good team and they just came out on top.”
However, this is a team that has a lot of high expectations. This is a team that should be playing with a high level of intensity each and every time out there. Like on Christmas Day when they beat a very good Milwaukee Bucks team only to follow that up with a lackluster loss to the Orlando Magic and then Saturday’s loss to the Heat.
“If we want to be a championship team, we can’t be picky and choosy when we want to play with that kind of intensity,” Trey Burke added. “I’m sure these last few losses sting, but we’ll watch film and grow from it.”
The Sixers next chance to grow as a team will be on New Year’s Eve when they face the Indiana Pacers on the road. [lawrence-related id=22387,22381,22372]