Heat melt Sixers to extend NBA’s longest win streak to ten games

By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly Staff 

The Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Miami Heat on Saturday night, 125-102, and it wasn't pretty.

The Sixers never had an advantage at any point during the game and played from behind for a majority of the contest. Without Joel Embiid on the floor the past five games, the Sixers have seemed lifeless on the court, and the Sixers were without both Robert Covington and Jahlil Okafor, who was originally a game-time decision.

Not only were the Sixers without their key players on the night, they had to deal with a Heat team that is the hottest team in the NBA as of late. The Heat are now winners of 10 straight and are really looking like a team that could possibly slide into a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

For Miami, no doubt about it, it was quite the performance from Hassan Whiteside on the floor, who led the Heat with 30 points and 20 rebounds. Goran Dragic added 16 points on eight assists, while Dion Waiters splashed down 21 points after going 5-of-6 from three. Tyler Johnson contributed 16 points to the pot off the bench for Miami.

Nerlens Noel played for the Sixers on Saturday after being labeled questionable pregame. He finished with seven points, seven boards, two assists, and two steals. Ersan Ilyasova led all Sixers in scoring with 21 points, and five rebounds on the night.

With a lack of a big man presence down low to really combat the attack of Whiteside, the Sixers were no match for the firepower that Miami put on. There is little to no doubt now that Miami deserved to win this game, and to continue their winning streak that they have shown in the last couple weeks.

The Sixers will play in Detroit against the Pistons on Monday night at 7:30 p.m.