Player grades: Tyrese Maxey, shorthanded Sixers fall to Heat in Game 2

Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers fall to the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

MIAMI — The Philadelphia 76ers needed a win in this series with the Miami Heat just to feel good about something before the series shifts to Philadelphia and a possible return of Joel Embiid. As they headed into Game 2 on Wednesday in South Florida, they had a lot on the line to get back into the series.

Philadelphia hung with the Heat in the first half again and at the beginning of the third quarter, they made a quick push to get within four, but they weren’t able to get any closer. Miami made their run and the Sixers couldn’t respond as they dropped Game 2 by a score of 119-103. The series now shifts to the Wells Fargo Center where they hope Embiid can return.

Tyrese Maxey had 34 points to lead Philadelphia, James Harden had 20 points and nine assists, and Tobias Harris had 21 points. DeAndre Jordan did have six and five rebounds in another start and Furkan Korkmaz had eight points and six rebounds off the bench.

Here are the player grades following the loss: