Red Hot Sixers vs Ice Cold Heat: Game Preview, Start Time

If you can remember allllll the way back to Valentine’s Day, then you can remember the Philadelphia 76ers over coming a 24-point deficit and defeating the Miami Heat in South Philly (without Joel Embiid).

As of the morning of the 27^th, the Sixers currently hold a two game lead over the 8^th seeded Heat. A Sixers win and Bucks loss (playing Washington) could propel the Sixers in to the 6^th seed.

The Heat are 1-1 since the All-Star Break, but are 2-8 in their last 10. For a Sixers team that is fresh off a 7 game win streak being snapped, this is a great opportunity for the Sixers to start up another good winning streak. The month of March is a rather easy one for the Sixers, so beating the Heat on the road is imperative for the playoff push.

The Sixers bench is going to have to show up tonight, as Miami’s bench is one of the more potent scoring benches in the league, averaging 37 bench points a game, while the Sixers average just 26 a night. On Valentine’s Day, the Heat bench outscored the Sixers’ bench 47-39. The bench production was mainly from new Sixers Marco Belinelli, who put up 17 points and was a huge in the Sixers comeback effort that night.

The Sixers lead the season series 2-0 right now as the teams will face off twice in Miami within the next two weeks. BEAT THE HEAT.

Things to look out for:

-Ben Simmons is averaging 19 pts 9 reb and 8 ast against the Heat this season and he will likely be matched up with faux All-Star Goran Dragic, who is averaging 14 pts 2 reb and 2 ast against the Sixers this season.

-Joel Embiid will be going up against one of his “best friends” Hassan Whiteside, who as of late, has been outworked by the rookie out of Kentucky (and one of the best names in basketball) Bam Adebayo. Bam has been putting up 10 & 7 in 23 minutes a game in the month of February while Hassan is posting 13 & 12 in 26 minutes a game.

-With the Ersan Ilyasova signing, it’s likely Trevor Booker or Amir Johnson will be the one to go, so an increase in Richaun Holmes minutes is in the forecast. (Ersan won’t be officially available until Wednesday.

Game Info:

Time: 7:30 pm

Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida

Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Listen: 97.5 The Fanatic

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