Jared McCain has spent the first part of the season trying to rediscover the player who was in the Rookie of the Year awards conversation a year ago. After shaking off the rust for six games, he did so today against the Miami Heat.
His season-high 15 points were one of the standout results from the Philadelphia 76ers’ 127-117 loss to the Miami Heat at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Sunday afternoon. McCain’s minimal revival, Andre Drummond’s continued productivity and Miami’s superior execution stood out in Philadelphia’s seventh loss of the season.
McCain looked sharp
McCain checked in for the first time of the game with less than three minutes left in the opening quarter and wasted little time. He buried a pull-up jump shot 12 feet off the dribble, setting the tone for what was to come. The sophomore looked more confident and decisive as a ballhandler after operating mostly without the ball in his first six games of the year.
However, McCain was equally effective from three-point range. He shot 3-4 from beyond the arc today, converting two spot-up triples. Whenever the 76ers (9-7) picked up the pace, the guard was ready to receive the ball and fire the catch. Between his goal-scoring versatility and shrewd dribble penetration, McCain looked like the player the fandom has come to love.
He finished with 15 points on 5-11 shooting from the field, two assists and one steal.
Drummond strikes out
While Joel Embiid’s (knee) seven-game absence lowered Philadelphia’s competitiveness, Drummond took the opportunity and ran with it. He contributed 14 points on 6-11 shooting from the field, 23 rebounds (eight offensive rebounds) and two blocks; the first 76ers player to produce those numbers since himself in 2022.
The 14-year veteran has been grabbing the glass lately, scoring efficiently in the paint and keeping the floor at bay. Fans and media alike called for Philadelphia to dump Drummond via trade after he opted out of his $5 million player option on June 26. But he has become an important part of the rotation through 16 games.
The center has recorded a double-double in six of his last seven games – yes, really.
The Heat are who they say they are
Miami (11-6) entered today’s game leading the NBA in pace, with an estimated 105.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and it showed why.
The Heat had 26 transition points and converted the 76ers’ 14 turnovers into 21 points, which turned the game in their favor. Philadelphia struggled to defend the fastbreak as Norman Powell torched it for a game-high 32 points, most of which came from the open floor.
Miami has thrived in the halfcourt thanks to a balanced scoring approach that has led it to the third seed in the Eastern Conference. The Heat took advantage of the 76ers’ inferior size as Jaime Jaquez Jr. feasted on the dribble on his way to 22 points. Kel’el Ware also outplayed Philadelphia with his athleticism, especially during pick-and-rolls, which earned him 20 points and 16 rebounds.
The 76ers remain at home to take on the Orlando Magic (10-7) on November 25 at 8:00 PM EST.
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