Belinelli adds to winning atmosphere

New Sixer plays 28 minutes, scores 17 points in win over Miami

PHILADELPHIA » From a distance, Marco Belinelli built a professional fondness for the 76ers.

From a position of importance in a 104-102 victory over the Miami Heat Wednesday, the veteran shooter learned that his hunch was correct.

“They want to win so bad,” Belinelli said. “That’s why I think we won this game.”

Despite playing without Joel Embiid, and though trailing at one point by 24, the Sixers recovered to win their 11th consecutive Wells Fargo Center game. That allowed them to roll into the AllStar break on a five-game winning streak.

Belinelli, who signed as a free agent Monday after an Atlanta salary dump, was more than helpful, logging 28:14, making three of five three-point attempts, and providing 17 points.

“I was really nervous before the game,” said Belinelli, who scored 11 fourth-quarter points. “But I wanted to play on this team so bad, just to play with guys who go on the court and try to be better, try to play together. The want to win so bad. And that is something that I really missed in the last couple years. So I am really happy.”

*** Two nights after playing 24 productive minutes, and just days before a scheduled threeevent All-Star Weekend, Embiid had the night off with a right ankle injury.

The Sixers had been reporting that Embiid was fighting ankle pain. Though he was fine during a 108-92 victory over the New York Knicks Monday, his availability for the Miami game was deemed to be a “game-time decision.”

What happened in two days to make Embiid unavailable for a game that Brown conceded had early playoff implications?

“Just his ankle,” Brown said.

MICHAEL PEREZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Marco Belinelli, right, drives to the basket past Miami’s Josh Richardson Wednesday night. Belinelli scored 17 points in his Sixers debut, a 104-102 win over the Heat.