The Miami Heat will visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. The game takes place at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Both teams have key players missing as the NBA trade deadline approaches.
Miami will be without Jimmy Butler, who is serving a suspension and remains a hot topic in trade discussions. Philadelphia is expected to rest Joel Embiid and will likely be without Paul George. The Heat won the first meeting between these teams in November, 106-89, with Butler leading the way with 30 points and 10 rebounds.
76ers Preview – Can They Win Without Embiid?
Philadelphia has won five of its last seven games despite dealing with injuries. The team is trying to stay in the playoff mix, but they are currently underperforming compared to preseason expectations. The Sixers recently acquired Quentin Grimes from the Mavericks, adding another perimeter shooter to their rotation.
Joel Embiid returned Tuesday with a triple-double (29 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) after missing 15 games. However, the team will rest him on the second night of a back-to-back. Without Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris will need to carry the scoring load. Maxey has averaged 25.8 points per game over his last five outings.
Philadelphia ranks 22nd in the league in scoring at 111 points per game. Their field goal percentage (45.8%) and three-point shooting (36.6%) are both below league average. Defensively, they allow 112.7 points per game, ranking 14th, and they struggle to defend the paint without Embiid.
Heat Preview – Can the Defense Bounce Back?
The Heat are coming off a 133-124 loss to the Bulls, where their defense struggled. They allowed Chicago to shoot nearly 53% from the field and gave up 19 three-pointers. Miami has lost two of its last three games and needs to tighten up defensively.
Without Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro have become the primary scorers. Adebayo is averaging 20.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game this season, while Herro contributes 21.1 points and 4.5 assists per contest. Rookie Kel’el Ware has stepped up as well, recording 17 points and 12 rebounds in the last game.
Miami ranks 14th in defense, allowing 112.7 points per game, but they have struggled in recent outings. They are middle-of-the-pack in three-point defense (36.7%) and need to be more consistent on the perimeter. On offense, they rank 22nd in points per game (111) but shoot the ball slightly better from deep (36.6%) than Philadelphia.
Betting Prediction
The Heat are slight favorites at -1.5, with the total set at 219.5. Miami won the last meeting between these teams and has covered the spread in seven of the last 10 matchups. With Embiid out, the Sixers will need a strong effort from Maxey and Harris to keep up.
Philadelphia has struggled when missing Embiid, as they lose rim protection and offensive efficiency. Miami should have an edge inside with Adebayo controlling the paint. Expect the Heat to capitalize on their opponent’s key absences and cover the spread in a close game.
Pick: Heat -1.5
