The first of two games on Wednesday in the National Basketball Association features the Miami Heat on the road at the Philadelphia 76ers. The Miami Heat are the 8th seed in the postseason, while Philadelphia is 7th. The winner of this game will get the 7th seed in the postseason, and take on the New York Knicks in the first round. The loser will go on to take on the winner of the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls.
The Miami Heat are 46-36 on the season. The Heat are coming off back to back wins to finish the regular season slate. The Heat are the defending Eastern Conference Champions, as they were the 8th seed a season ago. Overall, Miami has won 7 out of their last 10 games.
For Philadelphia, they are red hot. The 76ers have won eight straight games. The 76ers are now 47-35 on the season. Philadelphia is coming off a blowout win on Sunday over the Nets.
The Philadelphia 76ers are -4.5 at home over the Miami Heat.
Defending Eastern Conference Champs
It has been a good finish to the regular season for the Heat. They have won seven out of their last 10 games, and during April, they are 5-3. The three losses came to these 76ers, at the Pacers, and with the Mavericks. In those games, they allowed 112 points per game. In their four most recent wins, they allowed just 105 per game.
The Heat will want to keep this a defensive game. Miami ranked 26th in all of the league in scoring. The Heat are scoring just 110.1 points per game. The Heat are 5th in free throw percentage, as they are making just shy of 82%. Miami is led by Jimmy Butler. Butler is scoring 20.8 points per game.
Late in the season, Tyler Herro has come back for the Heat. the guard is scoring 20.8 points per game as well, with 4.5 assists per game. Big man Bam Adebayo has been strong in the paint for Miami. Adebayo is scoring 19.3 points per game, and averaging more than 10 rebounds per game.
Embiid Back for Philadelphia
Despite a nagging knee injury. The 76ers will have their big man Joel Embiid for this game. He played in just 39 games for Philadelphia, but has played five games this month. In his last four games, Embiid has scored 29, 30, 37 and 32 points. Before his injury, the big man was averaging 35 per game.
Tyrese Maxey has also been beat up. He scored 52 in recent win over the Spurs. That was in 53 minutes of play. In his last two games, the guard is scoring 27 points per game. The 76ers as a team are scoring 114.6 points per game. That is right in the middle of the National Basketball Association.
The 76ers are solid at the free throw line. Philadelphia is second, only to Oklahoma City with an 82.6%. The 76ers are 4-1 over their last 5 games at home.
76ers Take Down Heat
The 76ers are too hot right now. THey are playing great basketball since getting everyone back to health, or as close to health as they are going to get them. We like the 76ers to win this game at home, and then go on to give the Knicks all they can handle in the first round.
Our final bet for this game is the Philadelphia 76ers -4.5 over the Miami Heat. Enjoy the game and best of luck!
