The Miami Heat are poised to complete the competitive portion of their season on Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers. Win or lose, their fate may be sealed elsewhere.
The Miami Heat find themselves with their backs up against the wall, needing to win out in their final two games against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets to have even a chance at making the playoffs.
Sitting in 10th with just two games left, matters may be outside of their hands depending on what the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets do over their next two games. It’s still possible they could win both of their games and still miss out on the playoffs.
First things first, though, the Heat have to try to take care of business at home against the Sixers on Tuesday night. The Sixers will be shorthanded, missing Joel Embiid with a sore knee, J.J. Redick with back tightness, and Jonah Bolden and Furkan Korkmaz are both questionable.
If ever there’s a time to face a weakened foe, it’s when you need to win, and it’s when you’re shorthanded yourself. The Heat will be without Josh Richardson for at least the rest of the regular season, and they waived Rodney McGruder on Sunday in order to try and avoid the luxury tax and repeater tax.
With Embiid and Bolden (who generally starts in place of Embiid when he’s out) both missing Tuesday’s game, it’ll be interesting to see how Sixers’ coach Brett Brown will proceed at center. While Boban Marjanovic is always an interesting option, it’s possible Marjanovic will stay in his typical role off the bench and Amir Johnson may get some run along with recent signing Greg Monroe to eat some minutes.
In place of Redick, the Sixers may start Jonathon Simmons at shooting guard.
Philadelphia 76ers projected starters
- Point guard, Ben Simmons
- Shooting guard, Jonathon Simmons
- Small forward, Jimmy Butler
- Power forward, Tobias Harris
- Center, Amir Johnson
Miami Heat projected starters
- Point guard, Goran Dragic
- Shooting guard, Dion Waiters
- Small forward, Justise Winslow
- Power forward, Kelly Olynyk
- Center, Bam Adebayo
In what will likely be the final home game of Dwyane Wade‘s career and what will certainly be his final regular season home game, the Sixers and Miami Heat will tip off at 7:30 PM Eastern from Miami.