This Monday, the Philadelphia 76ers will host the Miami Heat in an effort to recover from their crushing loss to the Celtics on Saturday night. The action begins at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia at 7:00 p.m.
Heat vs. 76ers injuries: 3 Questionable, 3 Out for this game
With a 39-20 record, the Sixers are far ahead of the 32-29 Heat. The Heat defeated the Sixers in six games during the playoffs last May, but they have yet to meet this season.
The remaining games of the regular season for the Philadelphia 76ers will be just as challenging as they have been.
The Sixers have to quickly bounce back from Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to the Boston Celtics, 110-107, as they host the Miami Heat on Monday.
- Joel Embiid – Active
Embiid had 41 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, but his MVP-caliber performance was overshadowed by the loss. Furthermore, he successfully blocked three shots.
This season, Embiid has tied for the second-most in the NBA with five games of at least 40-10-5, and it is the most he has ever had in a single season.
Embiid has reached the point in his career where he wants to win. Since he joined the NBA, he has never won a game in the Eastern Conference Finals. But he’s played in enough big games to anticipate double teams, especially in the playoffs.
The big man has blocked nine shots in his last two games, but in his last three he has shot 0% from deep.
The Sixers should benefit from their tough schedule because it will force them to work on the little things that can make or break a game in the postseason.
The Heat were struggling prior to the All-Star break, losing to the Denver Nuggets and the Brooklyn Nets.
Since returning from the All-Star break, Miami has lost two more games, this time to the Milwaukee Bucks and the Charlotte Hornets.
Despite Tyler Herro’s 33 points and six 3-pointers on Saturday, the Heat lost 108-103 to the Hornets.
“This is a point in the year where we can either come together or we can go away and split,” Herro said.
Herro has a right rib contusion and may or may not be able to play against the 76ers on Monday.
Herro scored 33 points on 6-of-12 shooting from deep in Saturday’s loss to the Hornets, but he also appears to have suffered an injury in that game.
Victor Oladipo, Max Strus, Duncan Robinson, and Caleb Martin could all see increased minutes in his absence.
Injury reports Heat
- Tyler Herro (Ribs) – Questionable
- Kevin Love (Knee) – Questionable
- Kyle Lowry (Knee) – Questionable
- Omer Yurtseven (Ankle) – Out
- Nikola Jovic (Back) – Out
Kyle Lowry of the Heat remained on the sidelines due to left knee pain. It is currently unknown if Lowry will play tonight against the Sixers, as he has not appeared in a game since February 2 against the New York Knicks.
Since having surgery on his left ankle, Yurtseven has been sidelined for the entire season. Now that he’s been given the all-clear for contact, he can return to the G League and get back to 5-on-5 action. When exactly he will be able to play for the Heat, however, is still up in the air.
A game involving Jovic hasn’t occurred since December 26. We will continue to handle his availability on a game-by-game basis until the team provides an official update. On Wednesday, the 76ers and the Hawks will meet again, giving Jovic another opportunity to play.
Kevin Love (knee) is listed as questionable for this game despite playing with a knee injury on Saturday but still recording a double-double (13 points and 13 rebounds) in 26 minutes off the bench as a starter. Love is expected to be available for Monday’s game.
Injury reports 76ers
- Dewayne Dedmon (Hip) – Out
Austin Krell of USA Today quotes Philadelphia head coach Doc Rivers as saying on Saturday that Dedmon (hip) will be out for “a few more games.”
Even though the veteran’s hip pain is probably not too serious, Dedmon still needs rest. For the time being, the 76ers will continue to rely on Paul Reed and Montrezl Harrell as their secondary center options.
