12:42 AM ET
Tim BontempsESPN
MIAMI — After dropping their first two games on the shores of Biscayne Bay to open up this Eastern Conference semifinal against the Heat without superstar big man Joel Embiid, one question looms over the Philadelphia 76ers as the series shifts back to the City of Brotherly Love for Game 3 Friday night:
Will Embiid be able to play in Game 3?
“I really don’t know,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers said after Wednesday night’s 119-103 loss to Miami in Game 2, which Philadelphia again played without Embiid due to the facial fracture and concussion he suffered against the Toronto Raptors last week. “We talked [Tuesday], and we talked [Wednesday].
“He looked good, as far as talking. But he’s got so many steps to go through, and I don’t think he’s cleared any of them right now. So we just have to wait and see.”
Without Embiid, Philadelphia was once again overwhelmed in Game 2. Miami dominated the paint, outrebounding Philadelphia 44-34 and getting 21 second-chance points.
Meanwhile, the 76ers again couldn’t buy a 3-pointer, going 8-for-30 in Game 2 to make the 76ers 14-for-64 from 3-point range through the first two games of this series.
“I liked the shots tonight,” Rivers said. “We had some wide-open looks.
“But 8-for-30, with the shots you’re getting, it’s tough. You just look at the difference. They were 14-for-29. You can put the game right there.”
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The Heat, for their part, bounced back from their own rough shooting performance in Game 1.
Like in Game 1, Philadelphia found ways to hang around even without its superstar center for much of this contest. Tyrese Maxey scored 34 points, constantly breaking out in transition or slicing through Miami’s defense to the rim. Tobias Harris had another strong two-way performance, finishing with 21 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals.
James Harden also played better, scoring 20 points with nine assists, as he continues to see the same kind of massive attention being paid to him that the Heat…
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