Heat vs 76ers Predictions & Odds (April 6)
- The Heat take on the 76ers in a potential first round playoff preview on Thursday, April 6th
- Joel Embiid is coming off his 3rd 50-point game of the season as he chases his first MVP award
- Below you can find the Heat vs 76ers odds, plus our best bet and prediction
On Thursday, April 6th, the Philadelphia 76ers (52-27, 29-11 home) host the Miami Heat (42-37, 16-23 away) in what could end up being a preview to a first round playoff matchup if Miami manages to overtake Brooklyn for 6th spot in the NBA playoff bracket.
Although the Sixers have 10 more wins than the Heat this season, it would be a tough opening round test for Philly given the number of playoff hardened veterans on Miami, led by Jimmy Butler.
Before we even ponder the postseason, let’s get you set for this contest on TNT that tips off at 7:30 pm ET from the Wells Fargo Center. Check out the Heat vs 76ers odds, plus our best bet and pick.
Heat vs 76ers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Heat | +5.5 (-108) | +194 | OFF |
| Philadelphia 76ers | -5.5 (-112) | -235 | OFF |
After three straight losses, causing them to slip in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, the Heat have righted the ship somewhat, rebounding with two consecutive wins over Dallas and Detroit.
They get a much tougher test on Thursday as the 76ers are 5.5-point favorites in the NBA odds for this matchup. Philly is coming off galvanizing 103-101 win over the Celtics and will look to make it four straight victories at home against Miami.
Odds as of April 5th from FanDuel. Unlock the FanDuel promo code to bet on this game.
Heat Fighting to Stay Out of Play-In Tournament
It seems like Jimmy Butler can smell the scent of the postseason coming. After consecutive games where he couldn’t hit the 20-point plateau to end the month of March, he’s come out on a mission early this month. In two April victories, Jimmy Buckets is averaging 31 points, 10 dimes and 2.5 steals per game.
Spoelstra postgame: “[Jimmy Butler] really reminds me of somebody when he gets in that mode…I am not going to say who that is.”
Hmmmmmmmmmm, I wonder… 🤔 pic.twitter.com/0YG3PromSe
— jeremy chandler taché (@jeremytache) April 5, 2023
Every game is crucial for Miami down the stretch as they currently sit behind Brooklyn for the 6th spot in the East, which would mean avoiding the play-in tournament. A loss to Philly on Thursday night would all but crush Miami’s hopes of avoiding the elimination tourney.
It’s been a disappointing season for this squad. When it comes to betting, the Heat have actually been the worst team to wager on in the NBA odds, against the spread this campaign. Putting money down against them has provided a 19.04% return on investment to go along with their 28-46-3 ATS record.
EM-V-P Leading Way For Philly
With a dominant performance against one of the favorites in the odds to win the NBA championship, Joel Embiid is looking to make the NBA MVP vote an easy one. The 76ers center scored over half of Philly’s points in a thrilling win over the Celtics on Tuesday.
Top NBA MVP Contenders Season Stats*
| Player | Games Played | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Embiid (PHI) | 65 | 33.3 | 10.2 | 4.2 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) | 63 | 31.1 | 11.8 | 5.7 |
| Nikola Jokic (DEN) | 68 | 24.8 | 11.9 | 9.8 |
*Prior to Wednesday’s games.
A three-peat does not seem to be in the cards for Jokic anymore as he’s missed a few games with a calf injury while Embiid pulls away.
Much more comfortable at home than on the road, Philly have posted a 25-15 ATS mark at the Wells Fargo Center this season. Interestingly enough, the road team has won each of the last three meetings between these two.
Heat vs 76ers Prediction
In February, Miami squeaked out a two point win in Philly, before the 76ers got revenge in a big 119-96 victory in South Beach a couple nights later. While Miami may have more to play for, expect Philly to let the Heat know what they’ll be up against should they hook up in the playoffs.
On top of that, don’t sleep on Embiid making sure voters know he should be the undisputed favorite in the NBA MVP odds at this point. Following a 50-point game with another big outing against Bam Adebayo should all but clinch his first MVP trophy.
Joel Embiid Tonight:
52 Points
13 Rebounds
6 Assists
20-25 FGHe is the 2nd player in NBA history to record 50 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 80% shooting in a game, joining Wilt Chamberlain (2x) pic.twitter.com/kjYI5k6EA4
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 5, 2023
Miami is just 1-6 ATS in their last seven on the road against teams with an above .500 record. While they’re play has improved, our prediction is that the 76ers prove just too much for the Heat to handle. Lay the points and take the favorites to cover.
Pick: Philadelphia 76ers -5.5 (-112)
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $200 INSTANTLY & A NO SWEAT NBA SGP EVERY DAY!
- FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK
BET $5 & GET $150 IF YOUR BET WINS!
- BETMGM SPORTSBOOK
GET UP TO $1,500 BACK IN BONUS BETS!
- CAESARS SPORTSBOOK
GET UP TO $1,000 BACK - ON CAESARS!
- BET365 SPORTSBOOK
BET $5 & GET $150 IN BONUS BETS!
George has had a lifelong love affair with sports and studying sports statistics since he was a kid. He graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and has worked in the sports & media industry ever since in various roles from writer to producer.
