As the stage is set for a thrilling showdown in the Play-In Tournament, all eyes turn to the clash between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat. With the 76ers favored by -4.5, the excitement reaches a fever pitch at top-rated sportsbooks as both teams prepare to leave it all on the hardwood. Â
This call isn’t just a hunch; it’s backed by the sophisticated OddsTrader’s AI and my own expert analysis. For a full slate of today’s computer-generated predictions, head over to:
And don’t forget to check out more NBA picks on our YouTube channel. Today, our expert covered the Warriors vs. Kings and Heat vs. 76ers games!
NBA Pick
- 76ers -4.5 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)
Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 – 07:00 PM ET at Wells Fargo Center
Our AI Model likes the 76ers to defeat the Heat, 108-103, as 4.5-point favorites. When you subtract 4.5 from the 76ers’ score, Philadelphia would still win the game per the AI Model. Therefore, the best bet for this game is the 76ers -4.5 at Caesars.
Joel Embiid’s Return Should Ignite Philadelphia
The 76ers-Heat Play-In Tournament matchup is ultimately what most fans are excited for. The Heat played in the NBA Finals last season despite playing in the NBA Play-In Tournament last season.
On the other hand, the 76ers are only in the Play-In Tournament because Joel Embiid got hurt and missed two months. He was having an MVP-like season until his injury. Therefore, having him back will be huge for the 76ers.
That said, the Heat have looked locked in recently. The last two games have been terrific. However, both of those wins over the last two games have been against Toronto. So that’s not saying too much.
The Heat are typically good on the defensive glass and don’t foul at a high rate. That’ll help against the 76ers, who get to the foul line at a very high rate.
The Pick
While Philadelphia hasn’t scored at a tremendously high rate lately, the defense has been absolutely locked in. No team has scored more than 111.9 points per 100 possessions against the 76ers this month. As long as Philadelphia makes it hard for the Heat to score, they’ll win and cover the 4.5-point spread.
NBA Pick: 76ers -4.5 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
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