Ben Simmons only needed one word to describe the Phildelphia 76ers' embarrassing 137-106 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday. Speaking to reporters after the defeat, Simmons called their effort against the Heat “soft,” per Noah Levick of NBC Sports.
Philadelphia's road mishaps continued as it lost its third road game in a row. The Sixers suffered a 21-point loss to the Boston Celtics on Saturday and allowed 127 points to the last-place Atlanta Hawks last Thursday.
The Sixers could not find a way to stop Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. The five-time All-Star erupted for 38 points on 14-of-20 shooting from the field. He nailed his two triples on the night, converted all of his eight attempts from the foul line, and racked up seven rebounds, two assists, and three steals. He did all that damage in just three quarters.
The Heat outscored the Sixers 81-54 in the second half. Miami's 81 points after the intermission set a franchise record for points in a half.
Philly dropped to 9-18 on the road, compared to an NBA-best home record of 22-2. Overall, the Sixers are 31-20 on the season, good for sixth in the Eastern Conference.
Things won't get any easier from here for Philadelphia. Up next on the schedule is a visit to the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. The good news is they get a three-game home stand before heading into the All-Star break.
Nonetheless, Philadelphia's inability to get it done away from home is definitely a cause for concern. Winning on the road is a must in the playoffs, and if they don't find a way to address their woes, they might be looking at a short postseason in come April.
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