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GAME PREVIEW: Heat host Sixers in the final home game of the season

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The Miami Heat look to stay in the 5th seed in the East with a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.

By Matt Pineda
/ new
NBA: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

GAME STORY

The Miami Heat (38-31) are hoping to continue their winning ways when they host the Philadelphia 76ers (47-22) on TNT tonight.

After dropping back-to-back games in Philadelphia earlier this year when the Heat were forced to play with only 8 available players (including 2 two-way players), Miami gets a shot at Philly who could be at full strength.

The Sixers still have yet to clinch the #1 seed in the East, so this game does mean something for them. Joel Embiid sat out their last game against Indiana, so he’s got a little extra rest if he is able to play in this one. Jimmy Butler is still listed as questionable after getting his eye poked in the first half against Boston.

Miami’s biggest task will be to contain Embiid without Bam getting in foul trouble. Embiid is great at drawing fouls, and the Heat do not have the necessary size to switch anyone else on Embiid. So double teams will be happening, and it could be dependant on how well the Sixers are shooting. The second task will be to keep Ben Simmons out of transition. The Heat are normally good at this, but when Simmons can score without a set defense, he plays so much better.

The Heat have what it takes, but they need to continue to shoot well and stay out of foul trouble. It should be an interesting game.

ODDS: FiveThirtyEight gives the Heat just a 50% chance to win the game.

HEAT VS 76ers: THURSDAY, MAY 13 AT 7:30 PM

INJURIES

MIAMI:

  • Victor Oladipo: out (knee)
  • Jimmy Butler: questionable (eye)

PHILADELPHIA:

  • Joel Embiid: questionable (illness)
  • Matisse Thybulle: questionable (hand)
  • Shake Milton: probable (knee)
  • Frukan Kormaz: out (ankle)

LINEUPS

Projected Starters

Bucks Position Heat
Bucks Position Heat
Jrue Holiday PG Goran Dragic
Bryn Forbes SG Duncan Robinson
Khris Middleton SF Jimmy Butler
Giannis Antetokounmpo PF Trevor Ariza
Brook Lopez C Bam Adebayo

BROADCAST INFO

TV: TNT
RADIO: The Ticket 790AM & The HEAT Radio Network (Mike Inglis, Ron Rothstein, Jonathan Zaslow, Tommy Tighe)
SPANISH RADIO: WRTO Mix 98.3 FM (José Pañeda, Joe Pujala). HEAT Spanish Radio Network includes: WEFL ESPN Deportes 760 AM

Come back to Hot Hot Hoops at game time to join our GameThread and chat about the game live with other Heat fans!

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