Comment on Heat blow lead in 105-104 loss to 76ers, now left with an all-or-nothing Friday game to extend season

PHILADELPHIA – And so for the second consecutive season for the Miami Heat, the NBA play-in round comes down to a single all-or-nothing game at Kaseya Center. Last year, the Heat turned the opportunity into the launchpad for a run to the 2023 NBA Finals. This time, there will be a mere two-day turnaround from the sting of blowing a double-digit lead against the Philadelphia 76ers in a 105-104 loss Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Center. Win Friday night, and it’s on to a best-of-seven first-round series against the Eastern Conference top-seed Boston Celtics starting Sunday at TD Garden. Lose Friday to the winner of Wednesday night’s late play-in game between the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls, and it’s season over. The Heat last season lost their play-in opener at home to the Hawks before staging a fourth-quarter comeback to push past the Bulls. Until the midpoint of Wednesday night’s third quarter, it appeared the Heat’s zone defense would be enough to offset an uneven shooting night. But with a third-quarter rally, the 76ers regained their footing and now move on to a first-round series against the New York Knicks starting Saturday. With Terry Rozier sidelined and Duncan Robinson unable to push through his back issue, the Heat simply lacked the required offense on a night Tyler Herro shot 9 of 27 and Jimmy Butler 5 of 18. Herro closed with 25 points and nine assists, Butler with 19 points.