Losers in two of their last three
The Miami Heat come in having lost two of their last three games. After getting their 11-game home winning streak snapped on Saturday, they got upset by the lowly Memphis Grizzlies this past Tuesday, 118-111. The Heat fell to a 19-8 record and the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Having unexpected stumbles and losing to lottery-bound teams like the Grizzlies were long overdue, and it might help the Heat, who have overachieved for the most part, play at a more relaxed and disciplined pace.
Jimmy Butler will continue leading the balanced Heat attack. He will be in his second game back in Philadelphia and will be targeting to perform better than last time, where he only shot 4-for-13 for 11 points. Butler has compiled great numbers in his last eight (25.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 7.8 APG, three triple-doubles), while also having league-leading 2.1 SPG.
Bam Adebayo will be co-leading with Jimmy Buckets. The third-year power forward is bordering an All-Star level of play with 15.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game 57.3%-shooting.
The Heat are 8-7 on the road this season.
Joel Embiid is day-to-day
The 20-8 Philadelphia 76ers ended their recent winning streak at five after getting pummeled by the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, 109-89. They played without All-Star big man Joel Embiid, who sat out the game due to illness. He’s still considered day-to-day.
Should Embiid sit out again, the Sixers will still have a handful of weapons. They are also riding with great confidence as they delivered a 113-86 blowout to the Heat in their previous meeting.
Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, and Al Horford are pretty beefed up collectively and can cause a variety of problems against any team in the league. Josh Richardson, meanwhile, the former Miami Heat, could again come out aggressive against his ex-teammates. He had a game-high 32 points on an efficient 11-for-15 shooting in the initial match-up.
The Sixers are a perfect 14-0 at home and they are inside the top four in points allowed (104.1 PAPG) and defensive efficiency.
PREDICTION:
Joel Embiid’s availability will obviously be a big factor, but as a terrific home team, expect the Sixers to pull through either way and win, 108-105.
