The Miami Heat will try to extend its two-game winning streak when it travels to Philadelphia on Thursday night for a primetime matchup.
Miama had lost three straight games, but they have bounced back with wins over Dallas and Detroit. Philadelphia has won three of its last four games, beating Boston in a 103-101 final on Tuesday.
Update Injury for Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers
For the first half of March, Philadelphia was on fire, going undefeated during that stretch with wins against Milwaukee and Cleveland among their eight victories.
However, the 76ers went on to lose four of their next five games, effectively ending their chances of earning the Eastern Conference’s top seed. Even though they have won three of their last four games, they are still likely to end up as the third seed in the playoffs. The 76ers enter Wednesday’s action trailing Boston by two games and ahead of Cleveland by 2.5.
On Tuesday, Joel Embiid scored 52 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the 76ers to a 103-101 victory over the Celtics.
Nearly half of his team’s points came from Embiid, who also recorded a double-double for the second time in as many games. After going without a steal or block on Sunday in Milwaukee, it was encouraging to see him get involved on defense.
Embiid’s performance Tuesday marks his third 50-point performance of the 2022-23 season, as he erupted for 59 points against the Jazz and 53 points against the Hornets.
James Harden, meanwhile, played 40 minutes and contributed 20 points (7-17 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.
Harden scored 20 points on the strength of four made three-pointers and finished with double-digit assists for the seventh time in his last eight games.
Down the stretch of the regular season, the Arizona State alum keeps it going all around, averaging 14.8 points, 4.2 boards, 10.2 assists, and 1.6 steals in 39.2 minutes over his last five games.
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After dropping out of the top six in the Eastern Conference standings with a three-game losing streak at the end of March, Miami has won two straight games, beating Dallas and Detroit, to move within one game of Brooklyn for the sixth seed.
As of Wednesday afternoon, with three games left in the regular season, the Heat are two games ahead of Atlanta and Toronto.
Last Saturday, Jimmy Butler’s 35 points and 12 assists led the team to a 129-122 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. In Tuesday’s 118-105 victory over Detroit, he contributed 27 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
Butler led Miami in nearly every statistical category, posting team-high marks in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals, and field goal percentage while falling short of a triple-double by two boards and two assists.
Butler has had nine games this season where he scored at least 25 points, grabbed five boards, and dished out five assists.
Injury Report Heat:
- Bam Adebayo (Quadriceps) – Questionable
- Kyle Lowry (Knee) – Questionable
- Nikola Jovic (Back) – Out
Injury Report 76ers:
- Tyrese Maxey (Neck) – Questionable
- De’Anthony Melton (Calf) – Questionable
- P.J. Tucker (Calf) – Questionable
