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Using NBA 2K20 to predict Philadelphia 76ers vs Miami Heat

By Rahmeaun Rahming

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 18: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on December 18, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Heat defeated the 76ers 108-104. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 18: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on December 18, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Heat defeated the 76ers 108-104. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The Miami Heat will welcome the Philadelphia 76ers into their building Saturday for a showdown on South Beach. What does NBA 2K20 have to say about the matchup?

The Miami Heat enter a second night of a back to back for the sixth time this season Saturday against Eastern Conference rival Philadelphia 76ers. We used NBA 2K20 to predict the outcome of that game. At this moment, we are a confirmed 5-0 with these predictions, so we hope to continue that trend.

One point. That’s the phrase that can be used to decide the Eastern Conference action Friday night. Luckily the Miami Heat was on the right end of the phrase with a one-point victory over the Malcolm Brogdon-less Indiana Pacers. Philadelphia, however, lost to the Orlando Magic; a team I’m sure they had a tick penciled into the win column.

Things get even dicier for the Sixers as they now must travel down to the Heat’s House for a Saturday night tip. As of now (Friday night), the Sixers have slid to fifth place in the Eastern Conference while the Heat have a firm grasp of third place while inching ever so close to the Boston Celtics. If they can put some pressure on Boston by gaining a whole game in the standings on Philadelphia, that’d really be something to see.

Philadelphia is having some issues, to say the least. Sure they beat Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas Day, but that doesn’t guarantee you another win. In the five games since the Heat visited Philadelphia earlier this month, the Sixers had a three-game win streak bookended with losses to the Dallas Mavericks without Luka Doncic and the eighth place Orlando Magic. Last time out against the 76ers’ bench scored a grand total of 14 points.

That’s just not gon’ get it done!

I expanded the Heat’s rotation to ten players and continued to distribute the minutes to mimic the action each player saw during Monday night’s win against the Utah Jazz. Afterward, I headed over to the coaching tab and moved up head coach Erik Spoelstra’s run zone tendency from five percent to 50 percent.

I also changed Bam Adebayo’s secondary position to power forward since Meyers Leonard’s positions look that way. Lastly, I edited Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo’s vitals to allow them to initiate the offense. Since I re-added Goran Dragić to the rotation at his usual 6th man role, I slid Herro down two spots and gave Derrick Jones Jr the remaining minutes with Kelly Olynyk bringing up the rear.

Starting lineup

Miami Heat

Point guard, Kendrick Nunn

Shooting guard, Duncan Robinson

Small forward, Jimmy Butler

Power forward, Bam Adebayo

Center, Meyers Leonard

Philadelphia 76ers

Point guard, Ben Simmons

Shooting guard, Josh Richardson

Small Forward, Tobias Harris

Power Forward, Al Horford

Center, Joel Embiid

Outcome

The game was a back and forth affair through its entirety, but the Heat was able to ring the bell with a final score of 115-112. All-star candidate Bam Adebayo really took it to them with a monster game to the tune of 31 points and 22 rebounds. Dragic and Jimmy Butler came to play as well and anchored the team.

This Sixers, however, suffered through Joel Embiid’s second-worst shooting night of his career. He managed to put up 24 attempts but only converted on six of them. If SIxers fans reading this saw how many of those shots were from beyond the arc, their stomach might jump out of their bodies. Out of his 24 attempts, 13 of them were 3-pointers, and he only made two of them. He finished the game with a measly 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Player stats

Philadelphia 76ers

Al Horford – 25 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals

Tobias Harris – 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists

Ben Simmons – 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals

Matisse Thybulle – 17 points, 1 assist, 2 steals

Joel Embiid – 15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists

Miami Heat

Bam Adebayo – 31 points, 22 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

Goran Dragić – 23 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals

Jimmy Butler – 16 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

Duncan Robinson – 16 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists

Meyers Leonard – 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks

Next. Does Jimmy Butler have a case for MVP?. dark

Oh, wouldn’t it be great to see the Heat win at home against an underachieving conference rival that has high expectations? This prediction series is undefeated (5-0), and it’s getting tested again Saturday night against Philadelphia.

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