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The Miami Heat have themselves a series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Now that Joel Embiid is back, the Sixers showed they can compete with the Heat in the NBA playoffs. They took Game 3 in a relatively convincing fashion, holding the Heat to 79 points.
The Sixers aren't the only team to get a star player back. Kyle Lowry made it back to the court after missing the previous four games. He laid a goose egg in the scoring column, which underscored the Heat's shooting woes in the 99-79 loss. They shot just 35.1 percent from the field with Embiid back on the floor.
The Heat are in for a huge Game 4 on Sunday night. They will look to take a 3-1 advantage in the series, which could put them in a position to seal the deal back in Miami in Game 5.
Miami Heat Game 4 predictions
3. Tyler Herro bounces back
Herro shot 5-15 from the field in Game 3. After two scintillating performances, he had a strong first quarter and then did very little afterward. His scoring is hugely important for the Heat, which is why they had such a bad game without him playing well.
In the previous two games, Herro let it fly with confidence and could hardly be contained. Now that Philadelphia doesn't have to rely on DeAndre Jordan, the Sixers increased their defensive intensity and held the Sixth Man of the Year to a lowly shooting night.
Now that Herro got his bad night out, he should be able to bounce back. The lack of scoring was the biggest culprit in Miami's loss. Herro, the Heat's second-leading scorer, will have to be one of the main players who step up and hit more shots. He should score at least 20 points once again.
2. Jimmy Butler exceeds his Game 3 performance
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Butler was the lone Heat player who did constant damage to the Sixers in Game 3. He led all scorers with 33 points on 12-22 shooting to go along with nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. In Game 4, he could not only have another good game but play even better.
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Butler's game is perfect for neutralizing great rim protectors like Embiid. His ability to shoot from the mid-range can make the Sixers regret playing a center further back off the screen in pick-and-rolls. He can also draw fouls and find open teammates when the defense collapses. If just one Heat player has a strong game, it will be Butler, though he will do everything he can to get his teammates going, too.
With the Heat needing a win to prevent the series from tying, Butler won't take his foot off the gas. Another 30-point game and/or a triple-double is not outside the realm of possibility.
1. The Heat play a strong game but lose a close one to the Sixers
The Heat will most likely not get beaten as badly as they did in Game 3 again, but the Sixers are much stronger with Embiid.
Miami may not shoot as poorly as they did in the previous contest but they still have to play harder on defense. Embiid, now with his legs under him, could be better. Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris have stepped up and James Harden can be unlocked with Embiid as a pick-and-roll maestro. Philadelphia showed they are more than just their big superstar.
The Heat have to get used to Embiid's size, make their outside shots and figure out how to switch more effectively on defense. They are not without hope but the challenge ahead of them is tough. Taking a 3-1 lead over a reenergized Sixers team will be very difficult.
