Ivey's strong fourth quarter leads Sixers past Heat

Basketball Betting Lines

02/07/2009 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Royal Ivey came off the bench and scored 10 of his 11 points in the fourth quarter to help carry the Philadelphia 76ers to a 94-84 comeback victory over the Miami Heat.

Fellow reserve Marreese Speights chipped in 15 points and six boards for the Sixers, who improved to 3-2 during a seven-game home stand. Andre Miller posted 15 points and five assists, while Thaddeus Young and Andre Iguodala contributed 14 and 12 points, respectively, in a winning cause.

Dwyane Wade tallied 21 points but failed to make a field goal in the fourth quarter, as Miami fell for the fourth time in five games. Wade also dished out seven assists, while Mario Chalmers scored 18 points and Michael Beasley 14 in defeat.

The Sixers, who made a whopping 30-of-36 from the foul line in the game, managed to inch back from a six-point deficit to start the fourth quarter. Their first seven points in the frame came at the stripe, and Ivey's bucket gave Philly a 74-73 lead with 9 1/2 minutes to play.

Ivey and Young each hit from downtown during Philly's game-altering 14-1 spurt, and Ivey stole a lackadaisical Chalmers pass and dropped in a fastbreak layup for an 84-74 margin with about six minutes on the clock.

Philadelphia continued to play front-runner, as Miami could only get as close as eight the rest of the way.

The Heat withstood the Sixers' early sharp-shooting and trailed just 26-23 after the opening 12 minutes.

The hosts went over four minutes without a point in the second quarter, but Miami also struggled from the field and the teams limped towards a 44-44 tie at the intermission.

Miami scored the first six points of the second half and stayed ahead the entire period. The Sixers shot a putrid 4-of-18 from the field in the frame and were on the wrong end of a 69-63 score after three periods of play.

Game Notes

Philly was playing its second game after finding out forward Elton Brand will undergo season-ending surgery on his ailing shoulder...The Sixers, who are 15-11 as the host on the year, will finish their homestand with bouts against Phoenix and Memphis...The Heat fell to 10-15 on the road this season...Miami has lost six of seven to the Sixers...Willie Green and Lou Williams each had 10 points for Philly, which also received a game-high 10 rebounds out of Samuel Dalembert.

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