Wade’s 28 power Heat, 76ers’ streak ends at 17
Dwyane Wade turned in a vintage performance, scoring 28 points to end the 76ers’ 17-game winning streak and lead the Heat to a 113-103 Game 2 win that evened the first-round playoff series Monday night in Philadelphia.
Playing without injured All-Star center Joel Embiid for the 10th straight game, the Sixers nearly pulled off an epic comeback and cut their deficit from 16 down to just two points late in the fourth quarter.
Philly fans were going wild, and suddenly the home-court edge that had made the Sixers unbeatable for a month seemed like it would perk the team back up for one more notch on the winning streak.
But Wade buried two big buckets down the stretch that pushed back the Sixers and tied the series as it shifts to Miami for Game 3 on Thursday.
The Sixers lost for the first time since March 13 to the Pacers. They won 16 straight to end the regular season and the first game of the playoffs.
Wade’s play resembled his glory days at times, and he carried the Heat in a sensational second quarter that was the difference. He pump-faked his way to 15 points in the quarter — outscoring the Sixers by two.
The 36-year-old Wade made his first seven shots of the game and passed Larry Bird for 10th on the NBA’s career postseason scoring list.
Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell has a left foot bruise, and his status is uncertain for Game 2 against the Thunder.
Mitchell left the Jazz’s 116-108 loss in Game 1 Sunday after stubbing his toe in the third quarter, and he played sporadically the rest of the way. A team spokesman said Mitchell had an MRI on Monday, and the team will provide an update Tuesday. When asked if he was concerned about missing Game 2 on Wednesday, Mitchell said, “Not at all.”
“I can walk,” he said. “I think tomorrow will be the deciding factor, but I feel fine. I feel fine right now.”
Mitchell is one of the league’s top rookies. He averaged 20.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists during the regular season. He had 27 points and 10 rebounds in Game 1.