Player grades: Sixers fall to Heat, eliminated from playoff contention
Player grades: Sixers fall to Heat, eliminated from playoff contention
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers played host to the Miami Heat on Saturday continuing to play out the string in the 2024-25 season. Once again missing so many players and facing a Heat team needing a win to solidify their play-in tournament positioning, it was another predictable result for the Sixers.
The Heat used their size and physicality in order to wear the Sixers down late to walk away with a 118-95 win. Tyler Herro led Miami with 30 points and seven assists. The loss is Philadelphia's seventh straight and it also officially eliminated the Sixers from playoff contention as they will miss the postseason for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
Quentin Grimes had 15 points and four rebounds for the Sixers while Jared Butler had 19 points and 10 assists. Ricky Council IV had 13 points, four assists, and six rebounds, Adem Bona had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Justin Edwards added 17.
Here are the player grades following the loss:
Jared Butler: A
It was a solid offensive night for Butler. He started with a couple of triples and was able to run the two-man game with Bona in the half-court. There is a lot to like about Butler's game as this team's point guard due to his cerebral game and his understanding of how to run things. He was able to find seams in the defense and had a good back-and-forth battle with Heat guard, and former college teammate at Baylor, Davion Mitchell. Overall, he was efficient on the offensive end and was able to get his teammates involved as well. He had a terrific night.
Quentin Grimes: C-plus
Grimes was fantastic to start the night as he knocked down his first three triples including drawing a foul on one of his makes. He was aggressive with his offense—which is something the Sixers desperately need—and was able to convert to get the scoreboard moving for Philadelphia. After his hot start, he wasn't able to do much as Miami began to tighten up its defense and force others to beat them. Grimes still has a long way to go before he can take on the responsibility he has had recently. He turned the ball over a bit too much in this one.
Justin Edwards: B-minus
The Heat seemed to pay a lot of attention to Edwards in this one. He faced a lot of defensive pressure when he had the ball, but to his credit, he found a way to be effective. He knocked down an early triple and was able to get into the teeth of Miami's defense. He also made plays with his passing as he got teammates involved. As always, these reps he's getting are going to be super important for him as time moves on.
Guerschon Yabusele: D
The Dancing Bear had a tough time with Heat rookie Kel'el Ware who stands at 7-feet tall. There were a handful of times when Ware would just reach over Yabusele for easy offensive rebounds and the Heat didn't have much trouble converting in the paint. He wasn't able to do much on the offensive end either as he struggled with his free throws and was unable to get going in terms of his field goal shooting either.
Adem Bona: A
The night for Bona started with him throwing down a lob in the pick-and-roll game with Butler. His constant movement and activity seemed to bother the Heat at times in this one and he deserves a lot of credit for being able to make things happen for Philadelphia. He was in the paint on both ends and deterred a lot of Miami's drivers. As with Edwards, these reps he continues to get will help him take steps forward as player.
Ricky Council IV: B
The night for Council started off nicely. While he continues to struggle with his 3-point shot, he was able to get into the paint and draw attention from the Heat defense and make things happen. He was aggressive off the dribble and getting downhill which is what the Sixers have been begging for more of from him. However, he wasn't able to repeat his success after halftime as the Heat locked in on him.
Lonnie Walker IV: B
Getting back on the court after a concussion, Walker knocked down a triple immediately in his initial stint. He moved well on the perimeter on the defensive end and was able to make things happen by moving his feet well. His aggressiveness on the offensive end was a big help to the second unit in this one.
Jalen Hood-Schifino: C
The initial stint for Hood-Schifino wasn't great. Returning from an illness, he had a bad turnover on an inbounds pass and wasn't able to get anything going on the offensive end. He did knock down a pull-up jumper after halftime and made some plays with his passing.
Marcus Bagley: C-plus
In his initial stint, Bagley finished a slam and was helpful on the glass which is what the Sixers are looking for from their perimeter players. They need help rebounding and that's where the guards and wings have to step in and help in that regard.
Phillip Wheeler: Incomplete
Wheeler didn't get a look until late in this one and wasn't able to do much in his minutes. He did grab a rebound, however.
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