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Miami Heat: Preview vs. 76ers, led by Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler

By Trey Flynn

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat talks with media after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 27, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat talks with media after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 27, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The 27-30 Miami Heat will be facing off against the 37-21 Philadelphia 76ers, in a game that may just be the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs in just a few months (once again).

With the Miami Heat being tied for the 8th seed on the cusp of making the playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers are tied with the Boston Celtics as the 4th seed, hoping to get their home court advantage.

The Heat will play the Sixers 3 times by seasons end, Miami is currently 0-1, looking to tie their season series up at one game apiece, losing the first outing 114-124. In that 10 point loss, the Heat found themselves at the mercy of Joel Embiid, who dismantled Hassan Whiteside and led the Sixers with 35 points and 18 rebounds. Moreover, Embiid essentially forced Whiteside out of the game with 5 fouls in 21 minutes of action, forcing Bam Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk to try and defend the perennial superstar.

Luckily for Miami, the Sixers will be without Embiid in this one, but with new GM Elton Brand making more moves than any other team combined in the NBA at the trade deadline (hyperbole), the Sixers may not need Embiid to take out a middling Heat team, put best by Ira Winderman of Sun Sentinel below:

"“The 76ers have dramatically overhauled since facing the Heat in last season’s first round of the playoffs, adding Jonah Bolden, Jimmy Butler, James Ennis III, Tobias Harris, Haywood Highsmith, Boban Marjanović, Shake Milton, Justin Patton, Mike Scott, Jonathan Simmons and Zhaire Smith. The only players still with the 76ers from that series are Joel Embiid, Amir Johnson, Furkan Korkmaz, T.J. McConnell, JJ Redick and Ben Simmons.”"

However, according to Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, the Heat will have Goran Dragic and Derrick Jones Jr. back on the bench in this game, both questionable to play. In addition to those helpful players coming back from injuries (especially Dragic), the Heat are coming off a solid moral win against the Dallas Mavericks before the All-Star break. And if you saw the Sixers’ players who were in the All-Star competition *cough, Joel, cough*, you would know some of those guys had a little too much fun this past week.

Albeit, the Sixers will still be led by Simmons, Butler, Harris, and Redick in this intriguing home game, the cards still aren’t in Miami’s favor.

Miami Heat projected starting lineup:

  • PG, Justise Winslow
  • SG, Dion Waiters
  • SF, Jimmy Butler
  • PF, Kelly Olynyk
  • C, Hassan Whiteside

Injury Report: Goran Dragic QUEST; Derrick Jones Jr. QUEST

Philadelphia 76ers projected starting lineup:

  • PG, Ben Simmons
  • SG, J.J. Redick
  • SF, Jimmy Butler
  • PF, Tobias Harris
  • C, Amir Johnson

Injury Report: Joel Embiid OUT

dark. Next. Pros and Cons of the Miami Heat's remaining 26 games

Tune in to watch the Heat play in Philly against the best Sixers team we’ve seen in years, even without Embiid, 7 PM Eastern.

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