Sixers Struggle in Loss to Heat, Outrebounded 57-42

Poor shooting, rebounding woes doom Philadelphia in 119-109 defeat

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:03am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fragmented action of a basketball game, with angular shapes representing the players and court in an abstract, deconstructed style.The Sixers' struggles on the glass and in their shooting touch led to a frustrating defeat against the Heat, exposing areas for improvement as the playoffs approach.Today in Miami

The Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Miami Heat 119-109 in a game that saw the Sixers struggle mightily on the offensive end, shooting just 42% from the field. They were also dominated on the glass, getting outrebounded 57-42 by the Heat. Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George all had off nights shooting, while the Sixers' bench unit of Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes provided a spark but couldn't overcome the team's overall struggles.

Why it matters

This loss to the Heat is a tough one for the Sixers, as it gives Miami the season tiebreaker. The Sixers' rebounding issues and inability to make shots down the stretch proved costly, and they'll need to address these problems if they hope to make a deep playoff run.

The details

The Sixers' poor shooting night was highlighted by Tyrese Maxey going 2-for-9 from three and shooting just 35% overall, while Joel Embiid shot 10-for-25 from the field. As a team, the Sixers shot 42% and were outscored 16-2 in the final minutes of the game. The Heat also dominated the Sixers on the glass, outrebounding them 57-42, with Bam Adebayo grabbing 16 rebounds. The Sixers' bench unit of Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes provided a spark, but it wasn't enough to overcome the team's overall struggles.

  • The Sixers were outrebounded 36-24 in the first half.
  • After Embiid's three-pointer put the Sixers up 107-103 with 3 minutes, 22 seconds to play, the Sixers scored just one more basket, missing six of their last seven shots.

The players

Joel Embiid

The Sixers' star center finished with 26 points on 10-for-25 shooting.

Tyrese Maxey

The Sixers' young guard struggled, going 2-for-9 from three and shooting just 35% from the field.

Paul George

The Sixers' veteran forward shot 7-for-18 from the field.

Bam Adebayo

The Heat's All-Star center dominated the glass, grabbing 16 rebounds.

Kelly Oubre Jr.

The Sixers' bench player provided a spark, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to win these types of games against the top teams in the East. Our shooting and rebounding need to be better if we want to make a deep playoff run.”

— Joel Embiid, Sixers Center

What’s next

The Sixers will look to bounce back on Thursday when they host the Milwaukee Bucks in a key Eastern Conference matchup.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the Sixers' continued struggles against the top teams in the East, as their poor shooting and rebounding woes proved costly against the Heat. If the Sixers want to make a deep playoff run, they'll need to find solutions to these issues.