The Sixers end their five-game homestand on a two-game losing streak, dropping the latest game on Monday night to the visiting Miami Heat, 101-99. This follows the close loss to the Boston Celtics on Saturday night as All-Star Jayson Tatum drilled the game-winner to snap the 76ers’ five-game winning streak. There were a lot of things that factored into the loss to the Miami Heat and many of the issues were very familiar.

Here’s what stood out:

• Philadelphia committed 20 turnovers, leading to 22 points for Miami, many of them live ball turns that led to easy fast break opportunities. The Sixers have been much better as of late in this area, but it really bit them on Monday night at home. Their two best players had high turnover games – Joel Embiid with six and James Harden with four.

• The 76ers seemed to start the game with low intensity and effort following an emotional loss to the Celtics. But this was one that they needed the emotion to play into their favor as a way to jump on the Heat versus allowing them to hang around and dictate how the game was going to go.

• Miami made five more three-pointers than the Sixers and that turned out to be a big part of the game once the result was decided. You could see this in the moment, but it also stands out post-game once you focus on the box score.

• It was nice to see Tyrese Maxey bounce back and look like his old self. Maxey finished with 23 points to lead the bench unit and was only one of three players for Philly to score in double-digits. Embiid led all scorers with 27, Harden added 20 to go with Maxey’s 23. As good as Maxey’s points were off the bench, they only got 13 from four others who saw action in reserve minutes.

• Forward Tobias Harris played 34+ minutes and scored just two points on 1 for 4 shooting. Harris played too tentative against Miami and Butler – far different than the player we saw Saturday versus Tatum and Boston. A really poor showing in a big game.

Next up will be another test against this same Heat group on Wednesday in Miami as the 76ers embark on another five-game road trip.

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• Rhys Hoskins (94)

  Rhys is as hot and cold as players come. When he is hitting, he does it better than anyone. But the inconsistency, and the struggles in the field, keep him at 94. Which seems fair. The dumb errors can be maddening. But there is no run to the World Series without Rhys Hoskins. His bat is why they beat the Braves and the Padres. It is his last year before free agency, so he may be up for a career year.

  

  (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

• Aaron Nola (79)

  Aaron Nola has had his up and downs as a Phillie. A few years back he was a genuine Cy Young candidate. But he struggled to get back to that for a while. Until last year. He put together a great regular season and even broke the trend of September swoons. The ending was less than spectacular, with him struggling vs the Astros in the World Series. But Nola is a big reason they were there to begin with. And his great play was rewarded by cracking the Top 11, coming in at number 79.

  

  (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

• Kyle Schwarber (44)

  When the Phillies signed Schwarber, fans knew they were getting a power bat. What they did not know was that he would provide as much of it as he went on to. He sent 52 balls into the outfield seats between the regular season and the postseason. Well, that is not technically true. Because I am pretty sure the one he hit in Game 1 vs the Padres never landed in the seats and is still in orbit. Schwarber is among the best power hitters in the sport. His below-average fielding, and low batting average, keep him out of the top 40.

  But you will take those trade-offs when a guy does what Schwarber can with a bat. And while the batting average is low, he walks a ton to make up for it. He jumped from 80 last year up to 44.

  

  (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

• Zack Wheeler (35)

  Wheeler is about as good as they come. They asked a lot of him last season, and he delivered. There was a tiny hiccup vs the Astros. But for the most part, he pitched like a Cy Young last year. And he could have been if there weren’t pitchers like Sandy Alcantara doing inhuman things. They may go a bit easier on Wheeler this year, just so there is less fatigue in the playoffs. But we know for a fact that Wheeler will be as good as any pitcher when it matters most. He came in at 35 this year, after being ranked 25 in 2022.

  

  (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

   

• JT Realmuto (29)

  It looked a little bit dicey early in the season. But by the end of the year, JT Realmuto once against confirmed he is the best catcher in baseball. In the second half, there are few players who hit better than him period. He had the 5th best OPS after the All-Star Break in the entire MLB. And behind the plate, no one prevents steals better than him. His efforts helped him jump from 54 last year up to 29 for this season.

  

  (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

• Bryce Harper (17)

  Harper will, unfortunately, miss the first couple of months as he recovers from Tommy Johns. But when he is healthy, there may not be 5 better players in the league than him, let alone 16. That was on full display in the playoffs where he at times carried the Phillies lineup, including one of the most clutch home runs in Phillies history in game 5 vs the Padres. Landing at 17 makes sense if you factor in the injury and that he may not be able to play the field until late in the season. But Harper should be much higher if going just by talent. He fell from 5 to 17.

  

  (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

   

• Trea Turner (11)

  And one of the newest Phillies is also the one who ranks highest on this list. Turner is the best Shortstop in Baseball. He is also probably the fastest man in Baseball. His speed at the top of the lineup could make a huge difference for the Phillies this year. And his range at shortstop could be key with the league banning the shift. He makes consistent contact, plays great in the field, provides some pop, and will steal you a ton of bases. Trea Turner could quickly become one of our favorite all-time Phillies. He comes in at 11, after being ranked 13 last year with the Dodgers.

  

  (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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