by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Feb 27, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Where to watch: NBCSP, BSSUN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: 76ers -6
FanDuel: 76ers -6
BetMGM: 76ers -6.5
Caesars: 76ers -6
Season record
Heat: 32-29
76ers: 39-20
The All-Star break is over in the NBA and it's time to get on the horse and finish up the final home stretch of the season. Big trades, uncertainty, and absolute hilarity across the board all gearing up for the final home stretch of this season. You know who is also gearing up for the home stretch? Our champion handicappers at bigal.com who are ready to win their way all the way to the playoffs. There's a lot going on that we can't wait for in these final 23-25 games and you're going to need every bit of hardcore analysis you can get from this group. Just in the last 30 days we've had some big winners. Doc's Sports has posted a 16-6-0 record in the last month (+$9,200). AAA Sports has killed it at 17-8-0, and then Al McMordie with a dominant 20-11-1 mark over the last 30 days. Everything you need to know and more about what's going on this league and sports in general will be a fun finish to the end. All you have to do is go to bigal.com and find our Best Bets page and put forth something that only you think is good. Here's a hint: Go to the bigal.com website and happy betting!
Heat - 76ers preview, prediction and analysis
Imagine for a moment, if you will, if that Joel Embiid shot counted. I wish it did for the memes. It would’ve been lovely. It also would’ve kept the Philadelphia 76ers winning streak going, maybe, and they would’ve been set up for what should be a dominant effort against the struggling and reeling Miami Heat on Monday in Philadelphia.
The 76ers are coming off a 110-107 loss to the Boston Celtics after what was a wild finish. Jayson Tatum hit a step-back 3 with just over a second remaining, Embiid took the inbounds and drilled a 75-foot shot after time expired to avoid any hysteria in the battle of two of the best teams in the NBA.
Embiid had 41 points and 12 rebounds on one hell of a shooting exhibition, and James Harden had 21 points to go with 8 assists. Tobias Harris had 19 points, as the Sixers shot just 44.9 percent and went only 9 of 27 from the 3-point line.
“Unfortunately, story of my life," Embiid said.
Somebody go give that man a hug. He’s likely going to win MVP and this might be the best chance the Sixers could have to win a title, even in a crowded Eastern Conference. He doesn’t deserve such a tragedy.
"So I thought, I did pretty well tonight," Embiid said. "That's a good step for me because obviously, playoffs and with the remaining games I'm going to be doubled every single night. So, I got to find a way to get closer to the basket or just not letting them double me and just attack quick."
The Sixers are still third in the Eastern Conference, a 2.5-game cushion over the Cleveland Cavaliers. They are 3.5 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for second, with the Celtics trying to get some sort of cushion over red-hot Milwaukee. There’s still time, but the 76ers can’t be letting games like this get away.
But things could be worse. You could be the Heat, who have totally forgot how to win, and I can’t even say it’s fully because of Kyle Lowry not playing. This is just absurd how far they’ve fallen off. Maybe Kevin Love is the savior. Who knows?
But the Heat are coming off their fourth straight loss, 108-103 surprise against the Charlotte Hornets. If you read our preview from that game, you know it wasn’t a surprise because Charlotte is playing its best basketball, while the Heat are fizzling out right now.
Tyler Herro had 33 points and Jimmy Butler had 28 thanks to going 16 of 20 at the free-throw line, but no one else produced. Love had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Bam Adebayo had just 14 points for Miami. Meanwhile, shoutout to Mark Williams for going for 18 and 20 against this rebounding machine in Miami.
“This is a point in the year where we can either come together or we can go away and split,” Herro said.
Miami continues to lose ground from their spot in the play-in. They’re now only a game ahead of the Atlanta Hawks and 2.5 behind the New York Knicks from the sixth spot. With Toronto and Washington not far behind, the Heat need to get something going here before it’s too late.
Prediction
Another back-to-back for Miami, especially with travel to Philadelphia, isn’t a good sign. You have to think the 76ers are pissed for letting that one go. Embiid is going to be a challenge for the likes of Love and Bam. And clearly the Heat don’t have the guards to stop Harden. 76ers 117, Heat 104
Betting trends
Heat are 9-10 ATS as an underdog this season.
Heat are 10-22 ATS after failing to cover in 4 of 5.
Heat are 10-3 ATS off a division loss the last 3 seasons.
76ers are 22-11 ATS at home this season.
76ers are 17-7 ATS off an under this season.
Projected starting lineup
Heat:
PG: Gabe Vincent
SG: Tyler Herro
SF: Jimmy Butler
PF: Kevin Love
C: Bam Adebayo
76ers:
PG: James Harden
SG: De'Anthony Melton
SF: Tobias Harris
PF: P.J. Tucker
C: Joel Embiid
Injury report
Heat: Kyle Lowry (knee, out)
76ers: Dewayne Dedmon (hip, out)
Heat: Kyle Lowry (knee, out)
76ers: Dewayne Dedmon (hip, out)
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Miami Heat - Philadelphia 76ers prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
