Sixers a Slight Underdog in Playoff Warmup Against Heat
The best edition of the 2023-24 Philadelphia 76ers will hopefully be on display on Thursday night against the Miami Heat.
Joel Embiid will play his second game back in the lineup and Tyrese Maxey is expected to return, but despite the full-strength lineup, NJ sports betting apps and PA sports betting apps have the Sixers a two-point underdog.
The Heat should have all but one of their key players on the floor. Jimmy Butler missed shootaround but is expected to play. Tyler Herro has been out for an extended period of time.
Entering Thursday, the Sixers sit 1.5 games back of the Heat in the race for the Eastern Conference’s No. 6 seed, which is the cutoff for the play-in round. The No. 6 seed is also important because it comes with a favorable matchup against one of three teams.
The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t figured it all out under Doc Rivers (Surprising, huh?), the Cleveland Cavaliers are in a downward spiral, and the Orlando Magic lack playoff experience. The New York Knicks, in fifth, are vulnerable as well with Julius Randle now out for the season.
That’s far better than risking yourself in the play-in round, losing the 7-8 game and playing for the right to lose to the Boston Celtics in the first round.
The Sixers (+1200) and Heat (+1300) have the third-and-fourth-best odds to win the Eastern Conference at DraftKings. The Sixers are +1000 to win the East at FanDuel and the Heat are fifth behind Cleveland at +1600.
Thursday’s game is basically a playoff game for each team because of how much one result can shift the standings. Sure, the Indiana Pacers are there in seventh, but if you are betting on a team to make a run in the next two weeks in playoff mode, it’s the Heat or Sixers.
Of course, all of the Sixers focus will be on Joel Embiid, who had 24 points, six rebounds and seven assists in his 29-minute return on Tuesday. Embiid’s point prop sits at 26.5 (FD) or 25.5 (DK), his rebound prop is set at 9.5 and the assist prop is 4.5.
Embiid has had one 30-point game in his last seven matchups with the Heat. He had at least 12 rebounds in four of his last five games versus Miami, so that may be the route to take with betting the Sixers big man.
Kyle Lowry and Tyrese Maxey’s props are not listed as of publication because of Maxey’s questionable status, but I would keep an eye on the passing distribution between the two with Embiid on the floor. Assist props into Embiid could be worth taking advantage of as he ramps up his on-court fitness.
As for the Heat, you’d be dumb to avoid Jimmy Butler in a playoff-style game. A year ago, Butler recorded 35, 27 and 24 points in his final three regular-season games. He had 26 assists and 14 rebounds in those games as well.
We’re not quite at that specific stage of the season yet, but that gives you an idea of what Butler can do in April. His point prop is 20.5. He could be worth a points ladder, or a same game parlay with Embiid. An Embiid 25/Butler 20 SGP pays out at +148 at DK and +164 at FD. A 25/25 SGP is +310 at DK and +339 at FD.
If the playoff intensity is there from the tipoff, do not be surprised if Embiid and Butler take a majority of the shots.
And while sports betting has been live for several years now, PA online casino is also available. Casino apps such as BetMGM offer Sixers-themed roulette and blackjack games.