Philadelphia 76ers vs Miami Heat 5/4/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions
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Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat Matchup Preview (5/4/22)
On Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers will go toe-to-toe with the Miami Heat for the second time in this series. Game Two will also be played in Miami at FTX Arena in what will likely be a barnburner to the very end. The first game was not as close as avid NBA fans would have hoped; however, it did prove that this series is not going to be simple for either team. Both teams shot 25% or worse from behind the arc, which is significantly lower than their season averages. This series will likely continue to be defensive-centric, and if I were to guess, the better team on that end of the floor will be the one that moves on to the Eastern Conference Finals. Below I cover this game in more detail and which bets I think have tremendous value. Check it out!
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat Betting Odds
The likelihood of Philly shooting that poorly from deep again hardly feels realistic given its personnel. Leading up to this game, Philly was shooting 41% from behind the arc in the playoffs. Sure, a slight shooting regression is expected, especially as a team, but this was more consistent with an outlier game than a correction. An 8.5-point spread feels like way too much for a competitive team that dismantled the red-hot Toronto Raptors, even with Joel Embiid still being sidelined. You also have to consider that the Miami Heat are banged up right now; they will be without Kyle Lowry in Game Two. Also, there are several other Miami players who are questionable, including Tyler Herro, P.J. Tucker, Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent, and Max Strus. Even if all of those guys play, except for Lowry, they may not be at 100% health. That concerns me enough to take the Sixers and the points and pair that with the Miami Heat Moneyline. This game will be closer than the last game, but the Heat should come away with the win.
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How To Watch
Date: 5/4/22
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Arena: FTX Arena – Miami, FL
Channel: TNT
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Philadelphia 76ers Starting Lineup
PG: Tyrese Maxey
SG: James Harden
SF: Danny Green
PF: Tobias Harris
C: DeAndre Jordan
Philadelphia 76ers Analysis
Philly had its opportunities, especially after a big second quarter that saw it leading at halftime. Unfortunately, the third quarter was the beginning of the end as the Sixers could not buy a bucket if their lives depended on it. This will be a game they look back on and kick themselves for because they held the Heat, who rank first in three-point percentage on the season, to merely 25% from deep. Additionally, the Sixers could have had Joel Embiid in their lineup, which would have given them a Game One win if Doc Rivers had taken him out of a blowout game against Toronto. Philly also allowed Miami to get 13 more shots up than it was able to, and that scarcely leads to wins. The Sixers will have their hands full this round; they have to find a way to score on this Miami defense, rebound the ball at a high level, and get Embiid back in the lineup as soon as possible.
Miami Heat Starting Lineup
PG: Gabe Vincent
SG: Max Strus
SF: Jimmy Butler
PF: P.J. Tucker
C: Bam Adebayo
Miami Heat Analysis
Tough shooting nights in Game One from Jimmy Butler, Max Strus, and Gabe Vincent were saved by spectacular team defense and huge outings from Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. Herro and Adebayo combined for 49 points on 17-for-27 from the floor in what was primarily a defensive-minded game from both sides. The Heat shot just 25% from deep on 36 three-point attempts, but that scarcely matters considering they held Philadelphia to merely 17.6% from behind the arc. Still, Miami’s offense concerns me, going on dry streaks for several minutes at a time, which allows opponents to stick around. However, it is promising that Miami has found ways to win despite inconsistent offensive output; that bodes well for it in the Eastern Conference, which is an absolute gauntlet this season. The Heat need to play better offensively in Game Two to ensure they grab another home win because I doubt Philly will shoot that poorly for a second straight game.
