The Philadelphia 76ers are at home after beating the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night, 109-98, taking on the Miami Heat who they’re tied with for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. The Heat are coming off back-to-back wins over the Detroit Pistons after three straight losses to the Nuggets, Wizards, and Thunder. Both teams are fighting for a better spot in the standings as they head toward the playoffs.
Sixers vs. Heat betting info
Spread: Philadelphia 76ers -2 | Miami Heat +2
Moneyline: Philadelphia 76ers -130 | Miami Heat +100
Total: Over/Under 208.5
Sixers game information
Who: Miami Heat (37-30) at Philadelphia 76ers (37-30)
When: 7:30 pm EST
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, ESPN, Bally Sports Sun
Latest on the Sixers
The Sixers took on the Hornets and were able to pull out a game that was closer than it should have been, with All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. leading the way, as the team was missing Tobias Harris with an ankle injury. Maxey finished with 30 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists in 40 minutes, showing that he’s back from the concussion that kept him out the week prior. Maxey will be the key for the Sixers if they’re going to move up with a run against playoff-caliber teams over the next week.
Kelly Oubre Jr. had 22 points against the Hornets, shooting 8-16 from the field but only 1-5 on his three-point attempts. Oubre stepped up in the latter stages of the games and helped the team to a much-needed victory. The Sixers will need every bit of Oubre on Monday night against the Heat if they’re going to have a chance to win.
Tobias Harris is still listed as questionable for tonight’s game, with an ankle injury that kept him out of the Hornets game. Players like Buddy Hield, Cam Payne, and Kyle Lowry have been stepping up for the Sixers and will continue to be needed throughout the next several games. What’s been surprising is the play of the center combo of Paul Reed and Mo Bamba.
While neither two will be mistaken for Joel Embiid and, at times, regular NBA players, they’ve combined for good numbers of late. 14 points and 16 rebounds between the two against the Hornets. They’ll need some more of those games and better play defensively from the two but they’re getting production that they’ll continue to need for the next few weeks.
Latest on the Heat
The Heat have been battling injuries as well that have contributed to their current 8th place standing in the Eastern Conference. Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler, the two leading scorers for the Heat, are both listed as questionable for tonights game after both missed the second win over the Pistons on Sunday.
The Heat are coming into Philly, having played the last two games over the weekend in Detroit, including Sunday’s win. They’re a bit beat up on the injury report, and they should be a bit worn down after two tough games against the Pistons, then traveling to Philly. Center, Nikola Jovic is also listed on the injury report as questionable with a hamstring injury.
The Heat, if they are missing their two top starters, will need to rely on Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, and Bam Adebayo, as well as get some quality minutes from Caleb Martin. After tonight’s game, the Heat have an easier schedule than the Sixers do over the next few games, and if they can get their stars healthy, they’ll have a better chance to move up in the standings as the season end approaches.
What to watch for tonight
The Sixers will have a group that’s coming together with Maxey as the leader as they’re heading toward the end of the season and looking to sure up their playoff position. Maxey, after missing time over the previous week with a concussion. Maxey is going to try to get the Sixers a game up on the Heat and is getting more accustomed to players like Hield, Oubre Jr., and Payne on the court and has benefitted from having veteran Kyle Lowry on the floor of late.
The Sixers are going to need a huge effort from Paul Reed and Mo Bamba when they’re facing Bam Adebayo, who’s one of the top defensive players in the league, averaging 19.9 points and 10.5 rebounds this season. If the Sixers’ center combo can keep up with Adebayo, the Sixers’ guards and forwards should be able to keep up with the Heat, even if Butler and Herro wind up playing.
With a shortened bench and head coach Nick Nurse seemingly amping up the minutes for players as they get ready for the playoffs, the Sixers received some good news as both Robert Covington and Joel Embiid returned to practice in a limited role. Just seeing Embiid back on the court and working out has to be a huge lift for the Sixers and couple provides an emotional boost that the team needs as they navigate the end-of-the-season run to the playoffs.
Prediction
Sixers 115 – Heat 111
