Miami Heat: James Johnson is Game 2 X-Factor, what’s up next?

The Miami Heat even the series against the Philadelphia 76ers with a total team effort.

Dwyane Wade returned for games like this.

After the Miami Heat were outplayed and outshot in Game 1 of their first round series with the Philadelphia 76ers, Wade willed the team back into the series with a thrilling road win to even the series heading to Miami.

Tallying 28 points, Wade delivered one dagger after another, as the Sixers threatened a Heat lead that hung around double digits for much of the second half. With the Sixers driving to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, Wade came up with a steal on Dario Saric and facilitiated or scored on their next three baskets, to seal the game (including a jumper over Ben Simmons with just seconds remaining).

While Wade will earn the highlights, this was a true 48-minute, total team effort from the Heat. And one they desperately needed.

Goran Dragic added 20 points and the defensive effort of James Johnson, Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and Kelly Olynyk kept a potent Sixers offense under control, holding them to 19 percent from 3 (the Sixers shot 64 percent in Game 1).

The Heat’s physicality and relentless effort was a stark contrast to the deer-in-the-headlights look they presented on Saturday. Simmons was hounded by Johnson, Winslow and Richardson up and down the floor. The Sixers’ shooters (JJ Redick, Saric and Marco Belinelli) were kept off balance, as the Heat blitzed the 3-point line, making life difficult for them on the offensive end.

X-Factor of the night: James Johnson

Wade may have done the scoring, but Johnson’s fingerprints are all over this win.

Not only did Johnson play a team-leading 36 minutes without missing a shot (he did miss one free throw), but he defended Simmons for the entire game, keeping the Sixers’€™ best player under control and under duress, in just his second career playoff game.

Simmons gashed the Heat in Game 1, allowed to do whatever he pleased on his way to 14 assists, but tonight was a different story. Johnson guarded Simmons the length of the court, disrupting his passing lanes and forcing the ball out of his hands. Without the physicality of Johnson, the Heat would’ve been in trouble yet again. He set the tone from the start and Richardson, Winslow and Olynyk fell in line next to him.

Keys to Game 3

The series now shifts to Miami for two games and the Heat need to be ready for a return punch from the Sixers. The Heat admittedly showed much of their hand in this game, and the now the Sixers have 48 minutes of film to study and adjust before Game 3 on Thursday.

The Heat also need to prepare for the potential return of Joel Embiid, who will have two more days of rest and recovery. Embiid’s return changes the dynamic of the game for the Sixers and also reintroduces Hassan Whiteside to the conversation. While this could benefit Miami (Whiteside is notoriously engaged when playing against Embiid), it still means the Sixers adding a dangerous scoring threat.

This series for the Heat will be decided on defense. If they can replicate their effort tonight in Game 3, they will be able to find enough offense (particularly at home) to pull out another win. But simply resting on this game will not be enough.

Next: The Miami Heat Tipoff, Week Nine: Game 1 Struggle

They need to evolve and adjust yet again as a dynamic Sixers team looks to retake home court advantage.