Heat Check: Miami can't close out game in loss to 76ers

Published Oct. 30, 2013 9:55 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Philadelphia 76ers dominated the first quarter and the final 4 1/2 minutes to escape with a 114-110 victory against the Miami Heat.

Despite falling behind by 22 points early, the Heat fought back in the second quarter and seemed to take control in the third.

But the Sixers outscored the Heat 15-3 over the final 4:31. Miami, which had 45 points in the third quarter, managed just 16 in the fourth.

Philadelphia's defense held Miami without a field goal for 4:45 down the stretch. The Heat missed 10 shots during that cold streak.

Following an emotional season-opening win against the Chicago Bulls, the Heat traveled to Philadelphia for their first back-to-back situation of 2013-14. Dwyane Wade did not play, resting sore knees instead.

Considering the players got to their hotel rooms at about 4 a.m. Wednesday, perhaps it wasn't a shock they started the game flat. The Heat fell behind 19-0 and 26-4. The Sixers hit their first 11 shots, and the Heat missed their first seven.

Helped by 10 points off six Miami turnovers, Philadelphia led 33-14 after one quarter.

As against Chicago, Heat reserves got the team headed in the right direction. Norris Cole, coming off an exceptional effort on Tuesday night, and Rashard Lewis, who didn't play against Chicago, fueled a second-quarter comeback that helped Miami pull within 51-49 at the half.

Cole had eight points, two assists and three rebounds in 15:25 of the first half, and Lewis had seven points and five assists in 12:09.

LeBron James, Chris Bosh and the 3-point attack in the third quarter turned a two-point halftime deficit into a 95-84 lead. The Heat sank a team-quarter record 10 of 13 3-pointers -- including Ray Allen's heave at the buzzer.

Bosh had 12 of his 22 overall points and James had 11 of his 25 in the third.

The Heat scored 80 points combined in the second and third quarters, but 30 total in the first and fourth.

The final 4:31 when the Heat were outscored 15-3. They actually went 4:45 without a field goal until Allen's basket with 9 seconds left.

Philadelphia rookie Michael Carter-Williams, who had 22 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and nine steals.

Miami hit 16 of 40 from 3-point territory. It was the first time the Heat lost in the last 40 regular-season games when they've made 10 or more 3-pointers.

Heat visit the Brooklyn Nets at 8 p.m. Friday.

Charlie McCarthy can be reached at mac1763@bellsouth.net or on Twitter @mccarthy_chas