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76ers rest after being eliminated from playoff contention

After a stretch of three games in four nights, 76ers coach Doug Collins gave the Sixers Monday off. Despite a 106-87 loss in Miami on Saturday, the Sixers have won four of their last six games. At 31-45, Collins' team will visit playoff-bound Brooklyn on Tuesday night.

The 76ers' Nick Young drives to the basket against the Heat. (Lynne Sladky/AP)
The 76ers' Nick Young drives to the basket against the Heat. (Lynne Sladky/AP)Read more

After a stretch of three games in four nights, 76ers coach Doug Collins gave the Sixers Monday off.

Despite a 106-87 loss in Miami on Saturday, the Sixers have won four of their last six games. At 31-45, Collins' team will visit playoff-bound Brooklyn on Tuesday night.

The Sixers have six games remaining. They were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss to the Heat.

"You keep going out there and giving effort and trying to win, trying to improve on things and get better," Sixers center Spencer Hawes said Saturday.

The Heat outscored the Sixers by 24-7 in the final 10 minutes.

The loss, coupled with Milwaukee's victory over Toronto, locked up the last spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs for the Bucks. The Sixers, playoff participants the last two seasons, will miss the postseason this time around.

The loss extended their regular-season losing streak against Miami to 15 games. It also gave the Heat their fourth straight season sweep of the Sixers.

Once again, the Heat did not play starters Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The win was the 29th in the last 31 games for Miami, owner of the best record in the Eastern Conference.

It was clear to the Sixers that Miami is primed and ready to defend its title.

"There is a reason they went on that run: They have a lot of ways they can beat you," Hawes said. "I can't remember the last time we beat them, so right now it's got to be them."

The Sixers last defeated the Heat on March 15, 2009.