It required a top all-round effort by Jimmy Butler on Monday to keep Miami Heat in front and win 101-99 in the end at Philadelphia 76ers.
Butler scored the most crucial points in the game when 1:28 was left on the clock. That two-pointer by Butler was followed by converting one of the two free throws Miami were awarded with 8.8 seconds remaining.
Besides a total of 23 points, Buttler managed 11 rebounds, four steals and nine assists as well.
Philadelphias' James Harden went for a three-pointer at the buzzer, but missed it.
Gabe Vincent scored 14 points, Max Strus and Bam Adebayo added 13 apiece and Victor Oladipo had 11 for the Heat, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 27 points and 12 rebounds, Tyrese Maxey added 23 points before fouling out and Harden had 20 points and 12 assists.
Harden's two free throws put the Sixers ahead 99-98 with 1:41 to go, but the Sixers went scoreless the rest of the way.
Philadelphia took its second straight loss following a five-game winning streak.
When Strus dropped in two free throws with 7:10 left, the Heat went ahead 94-83.
De'Anthony Melton completed a difficult three-point play to get the 76ers within 95-93 with 5:22 remaining. Philadelphia's Tobias Harris headed to the locker room after that sequence with an undisclosed injury, but he soon returned to the bench.
The Heat went ahead 50-40 when Caleb Martin threw down a dunk with 3:10 left in the first half.
The Sixers responded with an 8-0 run capped by P.J. Tucker's 3-pointer from the corner, but the Heat closed on an 8-2 spurt and led 58-50 at halftime.
Butler paced the Heat with 13 first-half points, and Miami grabbed 10 offensive rebounds before the break.
Embiid anchored the Sixers with 14 points prior to halftime, but Harris went scoreless in 16 minutes.
The Sixers closed within 70-68 with 4:24 remaining in the third quarter when Maxey exploded on the fastbreak and completed a nifty reverse layup.
Sixers were behind 84-80 at the end of the third quarter.
(With agency inputs)
