Philadelphia 76ers vs Miami Heat Odds and Picks
- The 76ers face the Heat on Saturday night
- Miami is currently in first place in the East; Philadelphia is second
- Find the 76ers vs Heat odds, spread, preview, and picks below
Two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference will battle it out on Saturday night in South Beach as Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers visit the top seed Miami Heat at FTX Arena. The tip-off is scheduled for 8 PM EST.
Miami is coming off an impressive win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, despite a 31-point effort from Kevin Durant in his return. The Sixers also came out victorious in the first game of a back-to-back on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home.
76ers vs Heat Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1 (-120) | -108 | OFF |
| Miami Heat | -1 (-102) | -108 | OFF |
Odds as of March 4th at FanDuel
Philly is a 1-point underdog and has gone 20-11 ATS on the road. Fans of Pennsylvania online sports betting aren’t seeing a ton of value though, with this clash seen as a toss up.
Miami Heat On Top of NBA’s Eastern Conference
The Heat have been dealing with injuries and absences all season long. Whether it was Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, or Kyle Lowry out, Miami has continued to hold it down and win ballgames. That’s exactly why this team is in top spot in the East and a legitimate contender.
They’re just on the outside of the top five when it comes to the NBA Championship odds.
Bam masterclass came 💥 pic.twitter.com/D7GzP8tiUq
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) March 4, 2022
Erik Spoelstra’s group proved just that on Thursday in Brooklyn. Butler, Lowry, and PJ Tucker were all sidelined, yet the squad pulled through and got big performances from a number of different rotational pieces. Bam led the way with a 30-point night, while three others dropped 20+, including Tyler Herro.
It wasn’t easy for Miami though, trailing by as many as 16 but they really came alive in the second half and tightened up their defense.
The clear difference-maker was the Heat’s ability to dominate in the paint, outscoring the Nets 54-40. Spoelstra’s team also capitalized off their opponents’ mistakes, translating 13 turnovers into 22 points.
They now begin a seven-game homestand which is a huge positive because Miami is a stellar 21-7 in South Beach this season. However, Butler, Tucker, and Lowry are all likely to miss out again on Saturday.
Joel Embiid, James Harden Shining for 76ers
In the early days of the Joel Embiid and James Harden era, there has been nothing but sheer brilliance. The Sixers haven’t lost since The Beard made his debut, winning five in a row and outscoring their oppositions by an average of 14.2 points.
Even with the high-profile addition of Harden, Embiid remains the NBA MVP odds favorite.
Although Friday wasn’t the greatest performance from Philly, they ultimately got it done.
Embiid/Harden/Maxey together
First game: 89 PTS, W
Second game: 87 PTS, W
Third game: 78 PTS, W
Fourth game: 80 PTS, WBest trio in the league? pic.twitter.com/NVxmi9U8GQ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 5, 2022
It was the youngster Tyrese Maxey who really shined here, actually leading the offense with 33 points on 5 for 6 shooting from beyond the arc. But, the Embiid-Harden duo also made their presence felt, combining for 47 points with Harden dishing out 11 dimes.
Doc Rivers’ squad was playing catch-up for most of the night, trailing by 21 at one point. But, this resilient 76ers group never gave in, clawing their way back with some clutch offense down the stretch.
The Sixers were dominated inside and on the boards, but they shot the ball extremely well, draining 42% of their triples and 91% of their 32 free-throw attempts. Maxey led the comeback with 14 points in the third quarter alone and his breakout night certainly proved to be the reason Philadelphia was able to knock off a very solid Cavs team.
76ers vs Heat Prediction
Miami might’ve been able to beat the Nets without three of their best players in Lowry, Butler, and Tucker, but I don’t think that will happen here. Sure, the Heat are deep and have numerous players who can rise to the occasion, but the Sixers are red-hot. Also, Philly is 21-10 on the road in 2021/22. Lock in the visitors.
Pick: 76ers (-108)
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Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
