MIAMI -- The Philadelphia 76ers paid a visit to the Miami Heat on Monday looking to find something, anything to feel good about on the basketball court. Entering the contest riding an 11-game losing streak, their matchup with the Heat would be a challenge when considering Miami still has something to play for.
The Sixers held a lead in the early going, but once the Heat turned it on and got into a groove, there was not much Philadelphia could do on the road. Miami walked away with a 117-105 win to send the Sixers to their 12th straight loss. There are three games left now for Philadelphia.
The Sixers were led by Quentin Grimes who had 29 points, eight rebounds, and six assists while Lonnie Walker IV added 29 points. Adem Bona added 16 and 10 rebounds, Jared Butler had eight and four assists, and Marcus Bagley had six and six rebounds.
Here are the player grades following the loss:
Jared Butler: B-plus
Facing some tough perimeter guards for the Heat, Butler had some nice defensive moments. The Heat feature two tough guards in All-Star Tyler Herro and hard-nosed rookie Pelle Larsson. Butler did a solid job against either player and forced them into some tough shots. On the other end, it was a quiet night for him offensively, but he deserves credit for making plays for his teammates. The 4-year man out of Baylor did some good things in this one as he continues to show that he may deserve a spot in the future rotation.
Quentin Grimes: A
As has been the case in recent weeks, Grimes received a lot of defensive attention in this one. The Heat shaded a lot of players towards him and he was forced into some tough shots. He did a good job of attacking and being able to work his way into some looks, and it led to a much better second half. He found a groove with his 3-point shot and was able to help the Sixers get back into the game. He has an innate ability to just go out and find some baskets regardless of what the defense throws at him. If this can continue in the future, then the Sixers will be in great shape.
Lonnie Walker IV: A
Walker had a strong effort in this one. Returning to where he played college hoops at Miami (FL) in nearby Coral Gables, he was aggressive on the offensive end as he attacked the paint off the dribble which creates opportunities for himself and others. He made plays with his passing, did some good things off the bounce, and knocked down his triples. Whenever the Sixers needed a bucket, they turned to Walker and he delivered in this one. There were a few times in this one when he quieted the Kaseya Center crowd with a huge hoop for Philadelphia.
Marcus Bagley: C-plus
Getting his first career start, Bagley had some nice moments in this one. He used his length and athleticism to get himself an easy bucket in transition and he moved well off the ball in the half court. He did a good job of cutting baseline in order to free himself up for some easy baskets. His 3-point shot was still shaky in this one, but there are some NBA skills there.
Adem Bona: B-minus
There were some struggles for Bona defensively as 7-foot-2 Heat rookie Kel’el Ware gave him problems, but Bona did some good things on the offensive end. He rolled hard to the basket as he made himself available for lobs and dump off passes which made the Heat scramble at times. He did commit some bad offensive fouls in terms of his moving screens, but overall, he played well. Unfortunately, he ...
