NBA Picks 4/7 – Philadelphia 76ers @ Miami Heat

By Thomas Quaynor for Wannamakeabet.com

The fledgling Philadelphia 76ers (23-55) visit the Miami Heat (35-43) tonight at Kaseya Center in a matchup of teams that were expected to be contenders in the Eastern Conference, but both will likely finish well below .500. This is the fourth and final meeting between the teams. Miami won all three games against the 76ers this season, including a 118-95 victory in Philadelphia nine days ago. Miami is a 14.5-point favorite and the total is 214.

Philadelphia is coming off a 114-109 loss to Minnesota at home on Saturday night. It was their 11th straight loss and 14th in their last 15 games. Quentin Grimes scored a team-high 28 points (10-18 FG, 6-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT) over 36 minutes in the loss. Guerschon Yabusele posted 19 points (8-15 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), four rebounds, four assists and three steals in 37 minutes. Lonnie Walker IV added 18 points (6-12 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 3-5 FT), five assists, three rebounds and a block in 38 minutes off the bench. 

Undermanned Miami is coming off a 121-115 overtime loss to Milwaukee in their previous game on Friday night. Miami was missing their top two scorers in Tyler Herro (right thigh) and Andrew Wiggins (right hamstring). Bam Adebayo amassed a team-high 31 points (11-25 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 6-6 FT), 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block across 43 minutes in defeat. Alec Burks scored a season-high 24 points (8-18 FG, 6-14 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and grabbed five rebounds in 35 minutes for the Heat. 

WHAT WENT WRONG: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Despite experiencing a myriad of injuries throughout his 10-year NBA career, 76ers center Joel Embiid established himself as one of the elite players in the NBA during the 8 years he was on the floor prior to this season. Embiid was named to the All-NBA team five times and took home the 2023 MVP award. Embiid has averaged at least 30 ppg and 10.2 rpg for three straight seasons entering the 2024-25 campaign. He averaged a career-best 34.7 ppg last season but was limited to just 39 games due to a meniscus injury in his left knee. 

With a lethal duo in superstar center Joel Embiid and explosive guard Tyrese Maxey — who had a breakout campaign last year where he put up 25.9 ppg and was named an All-Star for the first time — leading the 76ers it appeared as if they were a player away from being serious contenders for an NBA title. Philadelphia believed they added that piece in free agent Paul George. The 76ers signed the 34-year-old, 9-time All-Star to a 4-year, $212 million max deal on July 1. 

Philadelphia entered this season with high expectations due to the formation of a ‘Big Three’ of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. But things unraveled quickly for the 76ers as Embiid began the season on the injured list. He also told reporters that he did not plan on playing in back-to-back games for the rest of his career which did not sit well with 76ers fans. Embiid missed the first 9 games of the year, and the 76ers went 2-7 without him. Embiid’s return on Nov. 12 did not help things as the 76ers went 0-4 with him before he landed back on the injured list with a left knee injury. The second IR stint kept Embiid out for almost 3 weeks, he returned on Dec. 8.

NBA Picks 4/7 – Philadelphia 76ers @ Miami Heat

With Joel Embiid barely on the court through the first month of season, Philadelphia got off to a horrid 3-14 start, and the season has deteriorated into the abyss. At 23-55, the 76ers have their most losses since the 2015-16 season when they finished 10-72. Paul George experiencing a regression in his debut season with the 76ers also contributed to the team’s downfall. George had averaged at least 20 points per game in 9 consecutive seasons prior to the 2024-25 campaign, but only produced 16.2 ppg this year. 

To make matters worse, Joel Embiid (left knee) and Paul George (left adductor leg muscle and left knee) both ended up with season-ending injuries. Embiid’s season ends with him playing in just 19 games, while George played in only 41 games. Tyrese Maxey was also shut down for the remainder of the year due to a lower back strain and sprained right finger. The 76ers officially shut down Maxey on April 3 but he hadn’t suited up since March 4. Maxey (career-high 26.3 pts, 6.1 asts, 3.1 threes, 1.8 stls) played in 52 games. Philadelphia’s Big Three ended up playing in 112 of 246 games this season. 

WHAT WENT WRONG: MIAMI HEAT

Two years ago, Jimmy Butler led the Miami Heat on an improbable run to the NBA Finals as the No. 8 seed. Miami became the second No. 8 seed (1999 New York Knicks) in NBA history to advance to the NBA Finals. Miami upset the top-seed Milwaukee Bucks and the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics en route to the 2023 NBA Finals. Butler averaged 26.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 46.9 percent from the floor across 23 games in the 2023 postseason. Butler averaged 27.4 ppg and 7.4 rpg in leading Miami to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2022. Butler’s playoff heroics earned him the nickname “Playoff Jimmy.”

Despite the success, problems arose between the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler when Butler became eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension last summer, and Miami choose not to extend him. Miami refusing to extend Butler appeared to anger him as this season progressed. Butler lashed out by publicly asking for a trade — something he cannot do by league rule — and walking out of a practice. Butler’s insubordination led to an indefinite suspension, followed by a trade to the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 7. 

Miami trading its superstar Jimmy Butler immediately backfired as the Heat went for 4-17 in their first 21 games without him. Miami suffered through a 10-game losing streak during that difficult 21-game stretch. Miami has since righted the ship by winning seven of their last nine games, which included a 21-point win (124-103) at the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics and a 112-86 thrashing of the visiting Golden State Warriors in Jimmy Butler’s highly anticipated return to Miami. 

On the season, Heat mainstays Tyler Herro (team-leading 23.9 pts, 5.6 asts, 5.2 rebs, 3.3 threes, 46.9% from 2, 37.3% from 3) and Bam Adebayo (18 ppg, 9.6 rebs, 4.3 asts, 1.3 stls, 48.4% from 2) continue lead the team. The 25-year-old Herro is averaging a career-high in points and has played in a career-best 74 games. He was named an All-Star this year for the first time in his career. Herro will average at least 20 points per game for a fourth straight season. The 27-year-old, three-time All-Star Adebayo has been playing great of late averaging 26.5 pts, 9 rebs, 5.3 asts, 1 blk and 1 stl over his last 4 games.

Miami received talented swingman Andrew Wiggins — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft ahead of college teammate Joel Embiid — as part of the trade package for Jimmy Butler. The 30-year-old Wiggins was instrumental in Golden State’s 2022 run where they captured the NBA title. Wiggins is averaging 19.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks and 2.2 threes per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the floor in 15 games with Miami. Wiggins had a season-high 42 points (16-21 FG, 6-8 3Pt, 4-7 FT) against Charlotte on March 23. He’s missed the last 5 games with right hamstring tendinopathy and is questionable for tonight’s game against the 76ers.

Miami is currently locked into the Play-In tournament where they will have to qualify for the actual playoffs. Last year, the combination of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo were unable to get Miami out of the first round — falling to the eventual champion Boston Celtics in 5 games — without an injured Jimmy Butler. We’ll see what they can do this year in a similar position with a playoff-tested Andrew Wiggins aboard. 

THE PICK: HEAT (-14.5)

Despite the disappointing season, Miami still has a little something to play for in a higher seed for the play-in tournament. While Philadelphia has waived the white flag on their season by shutting down their 3 best players for the year. The 76ers also must ensure they pile up enough losses to secure a top 6 pick in the draft. If their pick falls outside of the top 6, the Oklahoma City Thunder will receive their lottery pick! Lay the Big Number and take the Heat at home!

NBA Picks 4/7 – Philadelphia 76ers @ Miami Heat