Recent Play Details

Play on MIAMI HEAT -2.5 points (spread play is good up to -4)
3% confidence rating

The Miami Heat scuffled to carry the form from the first two games of this series in South Beach to Wells Fargo for the two contests scheduled for Wells Fargo.  The Sixers' player personnel are not shy of postseason experience and neither is the Heat troupe. A return to FTX Arena will be just what Doctor Butler ordered. The second rotation of the Heat will benefit from a return to home wood as will the first five. 

The return of Embiid for Game 3 and Game 4 coordinated the Sixers' offense with the defense. While the Philadelphia center is understood to be the offensive lifeblood of the Sixers his return is correlated with the efficiency of the team's defense, as well. 

Upon the return of Embiid, the Sixers were expected to be better offensively and they were. In the two games at the Wells Fargo Center, the Sixers' production on offense was a big reason that the defense was better. The Sixers scored 117.6 points per 100 possessions with Embiid on the floor and across the two games they shot nearly 50 percent from the 3-line.

The Embiid factor allowed Harden to receive less pressure on the ball and with the assistance of Tye Maxey and the vetearn marksmanship of Danny Green the Sixers were in a zone that made the Miami offense press and in turn made the 76ers defense look better than they could have the situation not required that the Heat step out of the character of who they were in the first two games in the series.

The Heat had their opportunities to be a part of Game 3 and Game 4 but simply didn't convert open looks from the perimeter into points. 

The Sixers have made themselves into a team that isn't capable of being as good as they have been in the second session of the best-of-seven series. The Heat had their opportunities to be a part of Game 3 and Game 4 but simply didn't convert open looks from the perimeter into points. 

Butler and his veteran teammates understand that a win in Game 5 at South Beach doesn't just turn the Sixers' momentum into a tale of what was, it secures the series and allows the Heat to be creative on how they can finish the series without giving away the farm and staying simple in all stages of their game. 

The Heat come up with a big game against Hardin, making shots beyond the 3-line not only difficult to measure but contested to the degree that the All-Star point guard makes some uncharacteristic mistakes that result in transition points. 

The Heat earned the Game 5 victory by wiring the Sixers allowing them to return to Wells Fargo with no distractions nor questions about what they have done to be in the position of needing a road win to secure their spot in the conference title tilt.   

MIAMI HEAT -2.5 points