The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off back-to-back wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers. They’ll return home for one game to host the Miami Heat before heading back out on another three-game road trip.
The Sixers and Heat met earlier this season, with Miami coming away with a 10-point win. Kel’el Ware was a major factor, finishing with 26 points and 16 rebounds as the Heat dominated the glass. Jaime Jaquez Jr. also made his presence felt, adding 21 points in the victory.
Since then,
it has been an up-and-down year for Miami. At 31–28, they find themselves hovering around the middle of the Eastern Conference and once again looking like a play-in team. There are plenty of reasons for the uneven season. Injuries have played a significant role, with Tyler Herro sidelined for much of the year. The pairing of Bam Adebayo and Ware has also lacked consistency. One night it clicks, the next Ware barely sees the floor. On top of that, Miami stood pat at the trade deadline while other teams around them made moves to improve.
Still, this is a talented, well-coached group that competes on most nights. Their newest addition, Norman Powell, has put together an excellent season and earned an All-Star nod. With Herro back, the Heat have two dynamic scorers who can space the floor and carry the offense when needed.
Earlier in the season, when the Heat and Sixers matched up, Miami was trying to implement a drive-and-kick offense that was much more unorthodox than the standard pick-and-roll systems you typically see. It led to early success, with the Heat boasting a top-five offense and piling up wins. Since then, there has been noticeable pushback from a few players, and Miami has shifted back to a more conventional approach. The key to this matchup for the Sixers will be limiting second-chance opportunities, as the Heat simply had far too many in their first meeting.
Fortunately for Philadelphia, it appears Joel Embiid will be available this time around. Embiid was solid in their last matchup, scoring 27 points in 26 minutes. He moved well, and looked good in 26 minutes of play. The Sixers are coming off two strong, convincing victories and will look to extend their win streak to three after a post-trade deadline slide that had them drifting toward play-in territory.
The catalyst in both wins has been Tyrese Maxey, who is coming off a near triple-double with 32 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and three stocks. If the Pacers game had been more competitive, he likely would have reached the milestone. Maxey has looked much more like himself, showing versatility in his shot selection with deep threes and tremendous finishes around the basket. His backcourt mate, VJ Edgecombe, has also been playing strong basketball. He was dominant from beyond the arc in the win over the Timberwolves and effective scoring inside the arc against the Pacers. The Sixers will need all the backcourt firepower they can get to match Miami’s.
Speaking of the backcourt, Quentin Grimes turned in another strong performance last game, and it could be a sign he is rounding back into the form we saw earlier in the season. He has now scored in double figures in back-to-back games and has looked noticeably more explosive doing it.
The Sixers need all the bench production they can get, and this feels like a matchup where Grimes will be especially important. His scoring punch, along with his ability to space the floor and make plays, will be key as Philadelphia looks to counter Miami’s shooting and ball movement.
Ahead of this matchup, Embiid is listed as probable, which is an encouraging designation. Johni Broome and Paul George remain out. For Miami, Herro appears good to go, along with Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell and Dru Smith. Nikola Jovic is the key player out, and Davion Mitchell is questionable with an illness.
This matchup carries weight for several reasons, starting with the standings. The Heat sit just 1.5 games behind the Sixers, with the Orlando Magic wedged between them. A loss would risk dropping Philadelphia into play-in territory, while a win would create some much-needed breathing room.
The season series also adds another layer of importance. After this game, the Sixers and Heat will meet only once more. A Miami win would secure the regular-season tiebreaker, which could loom large given how tight the standings are. If the Sixers take this one, the series would be split, setting up the March 30 meeting as the deciding game for the tiebreaker.
There is plenty at stake. The Sixers appear to have steadied themselves after what felt like their lowest point of the season. Now they have an opportunity to build on that momentum and secure a crucial win.
Game Details
When: Thursday, February 26, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
