MIAMI — Goran Dragic had 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists as the Miami Heat escaped an upset, rallying to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 103-98 on Sunday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
On a day in which a 13-win Los Angeles Lakers team shocked the 55-win Golden State Warriors, the 76ers nearly pulled their own surprise. The 76ers are the only team in the NBA with a worse record than the Lakers.
Miami fell behind by six points to start the fourth quarter before making its comeback. Heat guard Dwyane Wade finished with 23 points, and center Hassan Whiteside added 14 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks. Forward Luol Deng had 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Philadelphia was led by point guard Ish Smith, who had 21 points and five assists. Carl Landry added 18 points, Isaiah Canaan had 17 points, and Hollis Thompson scored 16.
The Heat (37-26) won their fifth consecutive game, a streak that coincided with the acquisition of small forward Joe Johnson, who scored 14 points Sunday.
Philadelphia (8-55) lost its 12th straight game in yet another dreadful season. This marks the third year in a row the 76ers have lost at least 55 games.
The 76ers, though, are missing five of the 14 players on their roster due to injury or illness: centers Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid and guards Nik Stauskas and Kendall Marshall.
Miami took advantage early, outshooting Philadelphia 61.1 percent to 40.7 percent in the first quarter. Even so, the Heat managed just a 30-25 lead after one period.
Philadelphia battled back to take a 49-47 lead at the half. With three seconds left in the half and the 76ers trailing by one, Smith took an inbounds pass at half-court, dribbled behind his back and then moved quickly before nailing a 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
Miami shot just 35.0 percent in the second quarter.
Canaan hit a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left in the third quarter, tying the score 69-69. That was where the teams stood as they entered the fourth.
Overall, the Heat shot 44.4 percent from the floor while the 76ers hot 43.5 percent.
NOTES: Heat SG Tyler Johnson (shoulder) said he is optimistic about returning next month. However, he still has pain when he tries to shoot. … Although many media members believe Miami PF Chris Bosh (blood clots) is out for the season, the Heat have made no such declaration. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Sunday that Bosh is working out with team staff and that he remains in “great spirits.” … 76ers PG Ish Smith, 27, is on his eighth NBA team — and that does not include that this is his second stop with Philadelphia. But he may be finding his groove since he averaged 21.0 points and 6.7 assists in the three games leading up to Sunday. … Entering Sunday, 76ers PG T.J. McConnell led all NBA rookies in steals and assists, and 76ers rookie C Jahlil Okafor ranked fourth among all players in points in the paint.