It appeared the Sixers would escape Miami with a big win over the Heat last night.

But that was before Dwyane Wade took over.

The 36-year-old posted a season-high 27 points, 15 of them coming in the fourth quarter, and provided the game-winner with 5.9 seconds to go.

JJ Redick had an open three to win the game but hit the front rim. With the loss, the Heat are now a game back of the Sixers in the Eastern Conference standings. And they’ll play each other again next week in Miami.

Joel Embiid and Dario Saric scored more than 20 points in the loss, 23 and 21 respectively, with Redick adding 15 and Marco Belinelli putting up 13 from the bench.

Richaun Holmes got in for nearly 17 minutes with six points, seven rebounds, and an assist on a +9 rating. Amir Johnson played more than 12 and-a-half minutes with five rebounds and an assist on a -11 rating. Just saying.

One notable event on the radar: Ersan Ilyasova will clear waivers and plans to sign a minimum deal with the Sixers as early as today. Sounds like it won’t be Richaun Holmes on the outs, even though Russ thought he was the one that was most likely the odd man out. Instead, it could possibly be Trevor Booker, who the Sixers acquired when they traded Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas back in December. There’ll be plenty of teams interested if he does become a free agent, and even if he surprisingly doesn’t get picked up by a team, it sounds like he’s fine as a venture capitalist.

Sixers travel to Cleveland on Thursday on TNT. I wonder if the LeBron to Philly billboards will still be up.

The Roundup:

Check out the latest Crossing Broadcast!

Rhys Hoskins is back to hitting dingers:

That and a Roman Quinn homer were the only bright spots in the team’s 11-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers yesterday. Both home runs were part of a six-run fourth inning, after the team gave up eight runs in the first three.

It wasn’t a good outing for Jerad Eickhoff, as he gave up three runs in an inning and-a-third off three hits and two errors. He did have three strikeouts.

One thing that was interesting was an in-inning defensive swap between left fielder Tommy Joseph and right fielder Collin Cowgill:

Manager Gabe Kapler has put an emphasis this spring on defensive shifts using the data of every opposing batter. But an in-inning defensive swap was something new.

“That was pretty neat,” Joseph said. “Part of the ‘Be Bold’ stature that we’re working with here trying to be trailblazers when it comes to the shifting.”

The Phillies will try similar tactics during the regular season. The shift happened once Reyes stepped in to bat from the right side against right-hander Ricardo Pinto. The scouting report said Reyes would likely hit a ball to left field. So there went Cowgill, the better defender, from right field to left. Reyes struck out and the outfielders switched back to their positions.

“It’s actually not a brand-new concept. It’s just more straightforward,” Kapler said. “It’s putting a guy who has a really good defensive capability in the spot where you think the ball is going to go. Is it a little unorthodox relative to what is done every day? Sure. But, at the same time, we want to be prepared for it during the season. Yes, you rep it, you rep it, you rep it. And then when it comes up, it doesn’t feel foreign at all. It’s like, ‘Duh, we did this many times over. And we’re good at it now.’ Guys aren’t winded because they’re running back and forth. It’s not new. It’s something practiced.”

Kapler also introduced player meetings and quantitative analysts from the front office in the dugout wearing uniforms during Spring Training games.

The Phils take on the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon. Vince Velasquez will take the mound.

During yesterday’s game, the team announced Roy Halladay and Pat Gillick as this year’s Wall of Fame inductees. In addition, a “34” jersey will fly all throughout the 2018 season at Citizens Bank Park.

There’s also new pictures of the Veterans Stadium Liberty Bell.

After 14 seasons, five of them with the Philadelphia Eagles, Donnie Jones is calling it a career.

“It is something that we have thought about for a little while now. You kind of start thinking about it as the season goes along and we’re picking up steam,” Jones said. “It was there in our minds as we’re playing and winning and you realize what we can accomplish. My son will be in fifth grade this fall and I’ve missed out on a lot of stuff with my family. For us, winning the Super Bowl really kind of made my journey complete. I’ve been blessed with 14 years in a really tough league and I feel really good about my career. I felt really good about it up to this point except I had never gotten that ring. I still feel really good. My leg still feels really good. I can still kick it high and far and get those five-second hang time punts.

“But I’m at a point now where I think it’s more important now to be present for my kids, be the father, be the husband, and be present. That is really what factored most into my decision. Fourteen-year career, now Super Bowl champion, now it’s time to move on.

“I felt really good about what I accomplished in my five years in Philadelphia. There really is nothing more for me to accomplish. That’s how I feel. That’s where I left it.”

https://twitter.com/CFJastrzembski/status/968526014715432960

Cameron Johnston is the only punter currently on the Eagles’ roster. He was on the team during training camp last year.

Most of the Eagles brass are in Indianapolis for the annual Scouting Combine. On-field workouts begin Friday, but Howie Roseman and Doug Pederson will speak to the media beginning at noon today.

Former Eagle DeSean Jackson still doesn’t like Chip Kelly:

“We don’t even talk about that dude,” DeSean said about Kelly … “He’s a weirdo. He’s a big-time weirdo.”

Maybe Trent Cole feels that way as well?

Nigel Bradham is a player the Eagles must re-sign, according to Pro Football Focus. But if they go a different direction, NaVorro Bowman could be a possibility.

Who are some offensive and defensive players the Eagles could select with their first round pick?

Tonight, the Eagles will be honored on an episode of The Goldbergs.

The Flyers did nothing during the Trade Deadline besides grab Johnny Oduya off of waivers, and that’s a good thing.

Travis Konecny has a feeling the Flyers are just getting started, as the final month of the season ramps up:

“I think we’ve earned it. I think we deserve it,” second-year right winger Travis Konecny, whose emergence has played a major role in the turnaround, said after Monday’s 1-0 shootout win in Montreal. “It’s been a long road and a lot of hard work, and it’s definitely not done yet. If anything, we’re just getting started. It’s harder to hold the spot than to get there, so we just have to keep working hard.”

Flyers are off until Thursday, when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes.

In college hoops, St. Joe’s crushed #17 ranked Rhode Island on the road, 78-48, on Senior Night for the Rams. James Demery had 21 points, and Taylor Funk added 17.

Tonight, Temple visits UConn at 7 PM on CBS Sports Network, La Salle hosts Dayton at 7 PM, and #4 Villanova travels to take on Seton Hall at 8:30 PM on FS1.

In other sports news, Ja’Quan Newton did this against North Carolina on their Senior Night:

https://twitter.com/gifdsports/status/968698287070044162

Could Morocco beat a US-led World Cup bid for 2026? Right now, it’s not out of the question.

Shaq’s son, Shareef O’Neal, has committed to UCLA after decommitting from Arizona:

https://instagram.com/p/Bfuh-1sD5PK/?utm_source=ig_embed

Tim Lincecum has agreed to a deal with the Texas Rangers.

Pizza Hut is the new official pizza sponsor of the NFL after the league and Papa John’s mutually ended their partnership. Papa John’s also has trash pizza.

In the news, Dick’s Sporting Goods will stop selling assault rifles and require gun buyers to be over 21.

A beloved Cherry Hill East teacher was suspended possibly after his comments on the lack of school security. After students staged a huge walkout, parents and students packed a school board meeting about the suspension.

Jared Kushner’s security clearance has been downgraded.