Sixers hold off Heat, close out series with win: recap, stats, highlights from Game 5 in NBA Playoffs

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers have the opportunity to close out their first round series against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

The No. 3-seed Sixers edged out a win at the No. 6-seed Heat over the weekend to give them a commanding 3-1 series lead. If they win to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, it will be the first time the Sixers have clinched a series at home since their last series victory against the Chicago Bulls in 2012.

In their first taste of playoff action, players such as Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Dario Saric have acquitted themselves well, while recent veteran acquisitions such as JJ Redick, Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova have provided an extra boost.

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10:43 p.m.: The Sixers are headed to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2012. 

Though the Heat stuck around, Miami never got within less than eight points of tieing the game in the fourth quarter. Marco Belinelli and J.J. Redick hit crucial shots on consecutive possessions with about two minutes left to stomp out the Heat's last-ditch effort. Philly won Tuesday, 104-91, and closed out a 4-1 series victory.