Whiteside, Wade fuel Heat past 76ers

MIAMI — Hassan Whiteside scored 26 points, Dwyane Wade added 16 and the Miami Heat moved a step closer to the playoffs by beating the Philadelphia 76ers, 108-99, on Thursday night (Friday Manila time).

Josh Richardson scored 13 points, Tyler Johnson had 12 and Kelly Olynyk added 10 to help the Heat stay No. 7 in the Eastern Conference and move within a game of No. 6 Philadelphia.

Dario Saric had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the 76ers, who got 19 points from JJ Redick and 17 from Joel Embiid. Marco Belinelli added 14.It came down to the fourth — Miami shot 13 for 18, Philadelphia 7 for 22.

And in the end, the Heat and 76ers split their four meetings this season. Combined score: Heat 409, 76ers 407. The Heat used 10 players — all 10 scored, all 10 had at least two rebounds, and eight of the 10 had at least two assists.

Miami controlled the fourth and led by 11 with 2:01 left, before the 76ers had one last gasp.

Redick was fouled by Whiteside before an inbounds pass came in, giving him one free throw. Redick added a jumper on the ensuing possession, and after a stop Belinelli connected on a 3-pointer — and just like that, after six points in 37 seconds, Miami's lead was 101-96.

The drama essentially ended there. Whiteside made two foul shots, and Wade slammed home a lob from Richardson with 50.6 seconds left for a nine-point edge. Embiid banked in a 3 from the wing to get Philly within six, but the outcome wasn't in doubt again.

Miami was up 12 late in the first half, before Redick willed the 76ers right back into things.

He was 3 for 3 from 3-point range in the final 2:42 of the half, helping Philadelphia get within two late before Wade made a spinning jumper with 1 second left that sent Miami into the break with a 53-49 lead.

No separation was to be had in the third quarter, either.

Miami led by four early, Philadelphia led by five twice — both times after 3-pointers by Belinelli — and the 76ers wound up leading 74-73 going into the fourth.