Miami Heat defeated the league's worst performing team this season the Philadelphia 76ers with a 103-98 victory at the AmericanAirlines Arena on Sunday evening.

Starters Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic led the Heat with 23 points each to overcome a shaky shooting night in disposing the already eliminated 76ers.

Like Us on Facebook

"Everything we go through right now is good for us as we try to put ourselves in a position for the playoffs," Wade, who went 5 for 15 from the field, said."This was a different kind of situation. We were down against a team we're supposed to beat, and how are we going to find a way to win the game?"

Joe Johnson and Hassan Whiteside scored 14 points apiece. Whiiteside, the NBA's leader in blocked shot per game (3.94 bpg), grabbed 13 boards for a double-double game performance and protected the rim 7 times, including a pivotal late one to help Miami wrap up the win.

"That's kind of what I do - block shots and get the crowd going," Whiteside, who had a sloppy shooting night hitting 4 for 11, said. "D-Wade goes dunk, and I cheer for D-Wade."

The game was tied at the end of the third period with 69 all. In the final quarter of the match, Philadelphia managed to outscore the heat and led by six points from a three-point shot by Hollis Thompson to make it 79-73 with 9:45 minutes remaining.

Miami was able to retaliate fast with back-to-back treys by Josh Richardson and Justise Winslow to bring the game to a deadlock 79-79 with 8:32 minutes in time. The 76ers sustained the pressure, but the Heat kept on coming until they overtook the lead 89-87 with 3:52 minutes to go.

Robert Covington tried to tie the game but was rejected by Whiteside then Wade made a dunk to increase their lead to four. Philadelphia called a timeout, but as Isaiah Canaan was trying to pull up a three-pointer, Whiteside again rejected the shot for his seventh blocked shot of the game.

TagsHassan Whiteside, Miami Heat, NBA