Is Joel Embiid playing against the heat? He will have to be if he plans on remaining the clear favorite to win the MVP. The 76ers (52-27) host the Heat (42-37) at home in what promises to be a thrilling addition to their long standing rivalry. The game is scheduled to tipoff Thursday, April 6, 2023, at 07:30 PM ET.
Embiid is expected to have another big performance, with the 76ers an optimistic 6.5 point favorite.
MATCH PREVIEW
Following Embiid’s 52-point performance in a narrow 103-101 victory against the Celtics, the 76ers are set to host the Heat. The 76ers have a strong record of 32-17 against Eastern Conference opponents, while the Heat have struggled against Eastern Conference opponents with a record of 22-27, that’s left them unlikely to break into the top six seeds with only three games remaining in the regular season.
Is Joel Embiid playing against the heat? With the 76ers expected to have all their starters available, this game could see fans enjoy another MVP caliber performance for Embiid as he looks to stop Nikola Jokic from becoming just the fourth player in history to be awarded three back-to-back MVP awards.
This will be the third meeting between the two teams this season, with Philly having won the most recent matchup 119-96 on March 2nd. Aside from Embiid, who has been averaging an impressive 28.4 points and 9.2 rebounds over the last 10 games, the 76ers will be relying on players like Tobias Harris, who is averaging 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
For the Heat, Bam Adebayo has been leading the way with 20.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, while Jimmy Butler has been quiet, he is expected to return to his usual fiery intensity against his former team.
ODDS AND PREDICTIONS
In their last 10 games, the 76ers have recorded a record of 5-5, averaging 113.0 points, 39.5 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 7.1 steals, and 4.8 blocks per game, shooting 49.0 percent from the field. During this time, they’re allowing their opponents to average just 111.8 points per game.
Meanwhile, the Heat have recorded a slightly better record of 6-4, averaging 112.6 points, 36.7 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 7.1 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game, shooting 49 percent from the field, however they’ve allowed their opponents to average 113 points per game.
Although Miami may have more at stake, the 76ers are expected to demonstrate to the Heat what they can expect should the two teams face off in the playoffs.
Additionally, Embiid is likely to continue making his case for the MVP award with an impressive performance against Adebayo, solidifying his position as the clear favorite for the trophy.
Miami has struggled against teams with a winning record, with a 1-6 record against the spread in their last seven road games. While they have improved recently, it is predicted that the 76ers will prove too overpowering for the Heat to handle in the early stages of the game. Therefore, it is recommended to bet on the 76ers to cover the spread and win the game.
Spread: 76ers -6.5
Moneyline: 76ers -235, Heat +194
Pick: 76ers -6.5
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