MIAMI.- Mexican-American rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 31 points and recorded his first double-double, Bam Adebayo finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds and the Miami Heat held on to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 119-113 on Monday.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra improved to 9-0 on Christmas, the best in NBA history for any coach in the Dec. 25 game.
Tyler Herro scored 22 points, Duncan Robinson 16 and Kyle Lowry 12 for the Heat for their first win on Christmas. Jaquez also had 10 boards for Miami, which had a 56-36 rebounding advantage.
Reigning MVP and two-time scoring champion Joel Embiid missed the game against Philadelphia due to a sprained ankle. Tobias Harris scored 27 points for the 76ers. Kelly Oubre 25. Mo Bamba had 18, De’Anthony Melton 15 and Tyrese Maxey — who was 4 of 20 from the field — contributed 12.
The Heat were again without Jimmy Butler (calf strain) and also ruled out Josh Richardson (back soreness) and Haywood Highsmith (illness) — and were without forward Caleb Martin in the first half with a sprained ankle. .
Source: With information from AP
