With 22 games remaining in the regular season, the NBA’s defending champion Miami Heat became the first team to clinch a postseason berth.
Miami also extended its winning streak to 17 games with a 102-93 victory over Philadelphia Friday night in front of 20,029 at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The victory tied the Clippers’ 17-game win streak from Nov. 28-Dec. 30, 2012, as the longest such stretch in the league this season.
Down by one point with 11:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Heat scored 10 straight points to take control. Seven different Heat players scored in the final 12 minutes.
Opponents have now recorded 100 points or more in the past three games against the Sixers after accomplishing the feat only twice in 14 games prior. As a team, Miami outscored Philadelphia 60-38 in the paint as well as 55-42 in the second half.
— Reported by the Sports Xchange
