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Sixers vs. Heat Betting Preview (January 14, 2021)

By Russ Joy

Published: Jan 14th, 2021 · 3:14 PM EST

Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

On Thursday night, the Sixers and Heat meet in their second matchup against one another in three nights.

Let’s get into our Sixers-Heat betting preview, including odds, boosts, and picks.

Preview

The NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols have been under much scrutiny of late, as the league was forced to postpone six games from January 10-13. Additionally, the league has moved forward with the postponement of two additional games this Friday (Washington v. Detroit, Golden State v. Phoenix).

Somehow, despite a whopping 13 players missing Tuesday night’s game between the Heat and Sixers, the NBA has opted to continue tonight’s game as scheduled.

While the Sixers are expected to get Tobias Harris, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle, and Terrance Ferguson back, assuming the final hurdles of the health and safety protocols are cleared, the Heat will enter this one shorthanded again.

Miami will once again be without:

Jimmy Butler
Avery Bradley
Udonis Haslem
Kendrick Nunn
Bam Adebayo
Maurice Harkless
KZ Okpala
Goran Dragic

Meyers Leonard is listed as doubtful with a left shoulder strain.

Sixers vs. Heat Odds

Here’s the line for the Sixers and Heat at DraftKings Sportsbook:

Spread: Sixers -10.5, Heat +10.5
Moneyline: Sixers -590, Heat +430
Total: 223

And here are the current best available odds for the Sixers (may not display on Google AMP pages):

[metabet_core_odds_compare query=”76ers” size=”300×250″ site_id=”crossingbroad”]

Bets We Like With a Sixers Win

FiveThirtyEight gives the Sixers an 84% chance of winning with a -10 point line. This represents a 1% increase in their model’s odds and an identical spread to what was projected ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup. Philadelphia’s implied win probability based on the moneyline is 82%, a 12% increase from ahead of Tuesday’s game.

Get started with DraftKings Sportsbook and grab up to $1,000 in bonus bets or get 100-1 NFL odds this weekend right here.

Sixers to Win and Miami +10.5 (+178, FanDuel)

Tuesday night’s game between the Sixers and Heat was going to go one of two ways: a low-scoring slog due to limited benches or a ridiculously high-scoring game that would feature defense reminiscent of the NBA All-Star Game. The latter prevailed.

The Sixers will be back to a relatively healthy squad, with Seth Curry and Furkan Korkmaz expected to be the only players from the Sixers’ regular rotation to be out. Given the volatility of the total points line in games featuring shorthanded teams, our recommendation is to look to parlay a likely Sixers win with Miami to cover +10.5.

In their five losses this season, only one has come by a margin in excess of ten points: a 144-97 dismantling at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks. Dallas pulled out a 10-point win on New Year’s Day, while their other three losses came by a total of 11 points combined.

Miami hasn’t lost consecutive games through their first nine games this season. Although we don’t expect them to be able to overcome the talent and player availability disparity, they’ve excelled this season at bouncing back, winning all four of their games following a loss.

Click here to get a $1,000 first bet offer or 25-1 NFL odds this weekend with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Sixers to Win and Joel Embiid Over 29.5 Points (+200, FOX Bet)

A season ago, Joel Embiid was flat-out dominant in four games against the Heat, averaging 27.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game. In his first game against the Heat this season, he strapped the Sixers to his back and carried them to victory, dropping 45 points and grabbing 16 rebounds on Tuesday night. His 45 points took him from 15th to 8th in the NBA in scoring.

With Embiid making a case for early MVP consideration, expect him to come out with a fire to prove Tuesday was no fluke. Although the Sixers will be getting Tobias Harris and Shake Milton back -which could lead to a drop in field goal attempts for Embiid- there’s a decent chance he’ll find his way to the charity strip 10+ times in this one.

Bets We Like Independent of Outcome

50-1 Odds on Joel Embiid to Score a Point (+5000, FOX Bet)

Note: PA only.

FOX Bet is running an incredible exclusive promo for new users who sign up for their sportsbook. Turning $1 into $50 has never been easier. FOX Bet has made it unbelievably easy to take advantage of.

To get the offer, select the NBA menu and then navigate to “futures” and “bet boosts.” There, you will find a “new customer exclusive” to bet $1 for a $50 win on Embiid to score a point. In order for this promo to count, this must be the first wager placed.

Click here to get the offer with FOX Bet in PA. Get in on the action in NJ right here.

Joel Embiid Over 26.5 Points (-110, BetMGM)

This market allows a better to divest oneself of the necessity to attach a game outcome. It also might be attractive to those who believe Embiid will rack up a point total in the high-20s or more, but insures bettors against the possibility he won’t hit the 30-point threshold. That said, he’s averaging 31.8 points per game over his past four.

BetMGM is now live in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Get a $500 first deposit match right here.

Sixers vs. Heat Prediction

Pick: We’re not comfortable recommending a parlay based on the over/under, but we are confident that Miami will cover a +10.5 point spread. Take the Sixers to Win and Miami to Cover +10.5.

Note: FOX Bet has an awesome offer ahead of the NFL Divisional Playoffs. Click here to get a +500 odds on the Packers or Saints to score at least once in PA. Get in on the action in NJ right here.

Russ Joy

Russ Joy is a commercial editor for XLMedia PLC, co-host of Snow The Goalie: A Flyers Podcast and It's Just Wrestling Podcast, and a Philadelphia Flyers writer for CrossingBroad.com. A graduate of West Chester University of PA and California University of PA, Russ is also a husband and father of four. Follow him on Twitter: @JoyOnBroad Email: russell.joy@xlmedia.com