The Sixers did what no team has done since Jan. 6: they beat the Heat.
On Saturday, the Sixers ended the Heat's 13-game winning streak with a 117-109 win, just a week after losing to Miami by 23 points (see Instant Replay).
They got a total team effort with 19 points from Nerlens Noel, Robert Covington and Dario Saric. T.J. McConnell had a 10-point, 11-assist double-double. Gerald Henderson and Ersan Ilyasova both scored 14 points.
The Sixers won without Joel Embiid, who sat out his ninth straight game because of a left knee contusion and a "very minor meniscal tear." Jahlil Okafor also did not play amid trade rumors.
"They're the hottest team in the NBA," McConnell said of the Heat. "But with the crowd that we have, we expect to win at home. Yeah, there is a surprise to it and it feels really good any time you get a win. To stop that streak feels even better."
Philadelphia 76ers
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia 76ers and their rivals in the NBA from NBC Sports Philadelphia.
While Hassan Whiteside pulled down 19 rebounds, the Sixers restricted him on the offensive end. After averaging 31 points in his first two games against the Sixers this season, Whiteside scored 12.
"I could just control the effort, I can't control whether it is going to go in or not," Whiteside said. "I still try to be effective on the boards and be effective in other ways. Of course we got a bit tired (the Heat played Friday in Brooklyn), but we are not going to use that as an excuse. We aren't going to say that's the reason why they won. They won."
The Sixers' recent loss to the Heat was still lingering seven days later. Their effort in Miami was lackluster and the final score didn't reflect how much the Heat had dominated the game. With that memory still on their minds, the Sixers quickly made up for that defeat,
"It feels even better," Noel said of snapping the Heat's streak. "They've been playing really good basketball and that's what we saw last time against them. We were more cautious and we did a much better job defending the three ball. A lot of credit to the coaches, staying on us, and it showed tonight."
The Heat had been having their way with teams around the league, from Eastern to Western Conference, top to bottom of the standings. Sometimes it isn't the club with the best record that snaps the streak.
"They came in on fire," Brett Brown said of the Heat. "As I said at the start, I don't care if you're the Golden State Warriors or Cleveland (Cavaliers), the (San Antonio) Spurs - to win 13 NBA games consecutively is difficult. I'm really proud of our toughness and togetherness to win on our home court."
