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The Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers will face off in a crucial Game 3 on Friday night. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Heat-76ers prediction and pick.
This series has been all Miami so far. The Heat have dominated both games defensively while performing capably on offense. That formula has been good enough to produce two double-digit victories. However, the momentum of the series could swing here. The Sixers return home for Game 3, and their backs are against the wall. No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit, so expect Philadelphia to do anything in their power to avoid that. This should be an exciting matchup, so let's get into the pick.
Here are the Heat-76ers NBA Playoffs odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Playoffs Odds: Heat-76ers Game 3 Odds
Miami Heat: -1 (-112)
Philadelphia 76ers: +1 (-108)
Over: 210 (-110)
Under: 210 (-110)
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Why The Heat Could Cover The Spread
There's no reason to think that Miami's defense will stop playing well here. They have a good defensive game plan for shooting guard James Harden, who has been held to 36 points over the first two contests in this series. The only player on the Sixers who have put together consistent offense is Tobias Harris, and he's an incredibly streaky player. The Heat match up well with just about every single player, and they've shown it through two games. That will continue in Game 3, where Miami should hold the Sixers to less than 105 points once again.
The importance of center Joel Embiid cannot be overstated. Embiid put together a masterful regular season, making himself the prohibitive favorite for the MVP award. Unfortunately for Philly, Embiid is doubtful for this game because of a variety of injuries. The Sixers have looked absolutely awful on offense without him, as Harden hasn't taken on the mantle of a lead scorer as many expected he would. Philadelphia has looked completely lost trying to score the basketball this series, and it's unlikely the Sixers get any better if Embiid doesn't play. Guys listed as doubtful usually sit, so expect the superstar center to miss one more contest.
Why The 76ers Could Cover The Spread
The Heat are dealing with a variety of injuries as they enter Game 3. Essentially half of the Miami roster is questionable, including Max Strus, Kyle Lowry, PJ Tucker, Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin, and Gabe Vincent. While most of those guys will probably take the court, there's a decent chance a couple of them sit the game out. Lowry is almost a lock to sit with a hamstring injury, and Strus is a new addition to the injury report. There's a chance that the Heat are missing several key players in this game, and that could be enough to hand the Sixers the cover.
Home court advantage should provide Philadelphia with a huge advantage. The Heat were a much better home team than away team during the regular season, and that has continued into the postseason. The only loss Miami took in the first round was when they visited the Atlanta Hawks. It also helps that Sixers fans are notoriously rowdy and that Wells Fargo Center will have every single seat filled.
Final Heat-76ers Game 3 Prediction & Pick
This spread is just too small to pick any line but Miami to cover. The Sixers are sorely missing Embiid, and while there's a chance he comes back, it's not a big enough chance to bet on.
Final Heat-76ers Game 3 Prediction & Pick: Miami Heat: -1 (-112)
