Miami Heat-Philadelphia 76ers Preview: Can Heat Enter All-Star Break With Two Big Wins?
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The Miami Heat (29-25) face the Philadelphia 76ers (32-21) on the road in the second night of a back-to-back.
The shorthanded Heat are coming off their most impressive win of the season Tuesday night, cruising to a 123-97 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Wednesday’s game is yet another challenge for Miami against the Sixers at Wells Fargo Center. With the All-Star break beginning on Friday, Philadelphia is fifth in the Eastern Conference. They have won two straight after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, the hottest team in basketball.
The Sixers are without reigning MVP Joel Embiid as he recovers from knee surgery.
Previous Matchups
Wednesday is the second of four meetings between the rivals, with the first on Christmas Day. The Heat (no Jimmy Butler) beat the 76ers (no Embiid), 119-113.
The game is remembered as Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s coming-out party. The rookie put on a show for the national TV audience, posting a 31-point, 10-rebound double-double. Both were career highs.
Bam Adebayo was masterful as well with 26 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
For the Sixers, Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubre Jr. led the offense with 27 and 25 points, respectively. 2024 NBA All-Star Tyrese Maxey struggled with 12 points on 4 of 20 shooting and 1 of 8 from three.
Opposing Players To Watch
Maxey is still a force, averaging 25.6 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 44.7 percent and 38.0 percent from 3-point range. Two weeks ago, Maxey scored a career-high 51 points in a 127-124 win over the Utah Jazz.
Both Harris and Oubre Jr. have taken on bigger roles after Embiid was sidelined. Harris is averaging 18.0 points and Oubre Jr. 18.6 since the injury.
Buddy Hield, who was acquired at the trade deadline, is averaging 22.3 points in three games with Philadelphia.
Key Matchup
Tyrese Maxey vs. Tyler Herro
Maxey and Herro are budding stars who can score in a multitude of ways. With the absences of Embiid and Butler, each has assumed a bigger role in his team’s offense.
Both struggled in their first matchup: Herro shot 8 of 25 vs. Maxey’s 4 of 20.
The two former Kentucky Wildcats do not lack confidence. Expect them to put up plenty of shots tonight.
Nick Crandell is a staff contributor at Inside the Heat.
He can be reached at nick.crandell33@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram @nickcrandell
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