Five Stars: Heat 103, 76ers 98

First Star

Dwyane Wade (MIA) 18.7

Wade had a game-high tying 23 points on five-of-15 shooting in his team-leading 36th Five Star appearance of the season, as well as his also-team-leading 13th First Star. Miami's starting shooting guard earned his bacon mostly on his 14 free throw attempts, of which he converted all but one. His plus-22 rating was far and away the best mark of the game. Wade also had three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in his 31:09.

Everything we go through right now is good for us as we try to put ourselves in a position for the playoffs. 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? - Wade

Second Star

Luol Deng (MIA) 18.2

Deng made his 18th Five Star appearance of the season, earning one of two double-doubles for Miami in the process, his seventh this season for the Heat. He scored a dozen points on five-of-11 shooting, making one-of-four from outside and one-of-two from the line in 35:43 as Miami's starting power forward. His game-high 14 rebounds included three offensive boards. He also had four assists, two steals, and a block, closing the night with the game's only even plus-minus rating.

Third Star

Ish Smith (PHI) 18.0

Smith, Philadelphia's six-year veteran starting point guard and only Five Star representative, led the Sixers with 21 points in a game-high 38:06. He shot eight-of-12 overall, two-of-four from deep, and three-for six from the charity stripe. He added five assists, four rebounds, and a steal, finishing up at minus-15.

It's kind of been the story of the year. We just have to close down these close games. - Smith

Fourth Star

Goran Dragic (MIA) 17.8

Dragic, Miami's starting point guard, matched Wade's game-high 23 points on a nine-for-15 night from the floor, and also made three-for-four from long-distance. He sunk both of his free throw attempts, adding a game-high-tying five helpers, eight rebounds, and a minus-3 rating. It was his 22nd Five Star appearance.

It was bodies flying around. Great play by D-Wade. He's still got the hops. - Dragic

Fifth Star

Hassan Whiteside (MIA) 14.6

Whiteside, showing up in the Five Stars for the 33rd time, played 30:40 off the bench, spelling Amar'e Stoudemire at center. He racked up his 27th double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass. He made just four-of-11 from the field, and six of his 10 foul shots, along with seven blocks, an assist, and a minus-1 rating.

That's kind of what I do - block shots and get the crowd going. D-Wade goes dunk, and I cheer for D-Wade. - Whiteside

The Rest

Carl Landry (PHI) 13.0

Landry just missed out on the Five Stars, scoring 18 points in just over 26 minutes. He also had seven rebounds (five offensive).

Isaiah Canaan (PHI) 11.0

Joe Johnson (MIA) 10.2

Hollis Thompson (PHI) 8.1

Robert Covington (PHI) 7.8

Richaun Holmes (PHI) 6.7

Holmes had seven points and three blocks in 15 minutes for the Sixers.

Justise Winslow (MIA) 5.9

Jerami Grant (PHI) 5.0

TJ McConnell (PHI) 5.0

Somehow, McConnell earned a team-high plus-15 rating in under 13 minutes, with four points, three assists, two rebounds, and a steal.

Josh Richardson (MIA) 3.6

Gerald Green (MIA) 0.3

Amar'e Stoudemire (MIA) 0.0

Elton Brand (PHI) -0.1

Five Stars Standings

Player	TP	COUNT
Dwyane Wade	238	36
Chris Bosh	213	33
Hassan Whiteside	199	33
Goran Dragic	108	22
Luol Deng	91	18
Gerald Green	35	9
Tyler Johnson	32	7
Justise Winslow	19	4
Josh McRoberts	12	2
Amar’e Stoudemire	10	1
Beno Udrih	10	3
Joe Johnson	8	1
GOAT	2	1

On Wednesday, Miami will open up a three-game roadtrip starting in Milwaukee against the Bucks. They'll also play the Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors before returning to the triple-A next Monday. Liberty Ballers has more on the Sixers, Brew Hoop can tell you what you need to know about the Bucks, and HHH has your back for the Miami Heat