The Latest Breaking News from Joel Embiid

MIAMI — Five takeaways from the Miami Heat’s 119-96 blowout loss to the Philadelphia 76ers (40-21) on Wednesday night at Miami-Dade Arena to open a critical season-long six-game homestand, as the Heat fights to avoid the play-in tournament. The Heat (33-30) continues the homestand with another important game Friday against…

“That one makes no sense,” Daryl Morey tells @JGrasso_ regarding James Harden to Houston rumors. “That seems to be invented by someone. I don't understand it, at all.”

Milwaukee has continued its surge without Giannis Antetokounmpo. Plus, the Mavericks and Heat slide.

The Nuggets have all the ingredients to make a deep run. The Pelicans and Mavericks, not so much.

MIAMI — There is something particularly honorable about a professional sports team overachieving. It is a way of telling fans that no matter what appears to be missing, there is a willingness to go above and beyond.

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.

The weekend was quintessential Sixers: a two-game stretch that gave you every reason to think they can compete in a playoff against the best the NBA can offer, and several reasons to wonder whether they can actually win four times in seven games.

Plus, inside MLB’s hunt for a jersey thief.

The Philadelphia center made an unlikely shot, but it came a fraction of a second too late to force overtime against the Celtics.

Ugh, what a shot that didn't count.

For four months, the Miami Heat have measured themselves against just about everything the NBA has had to throw at them.