Erik Spoelstra’s side does not know whether it will have automatic entry into the postseason or will have to partake in the play-in mini-tournament. As such, they need to keep on winning. The 76ers will finish either second or third in the East, but that hasn’t been decided either.

Check the NBA odds as they develop.

Heat vs. 76ers NBA Betting Odds

Three tête-à-têtes were on the schedule at the start of the season and two are in the books. Interestingly, the road teams captured both games. Lest it is forgotten that Miami and Philadelphia played a second-round playoff series last year – the Heat won 4-2 – so they know what it’s like playing against one another when so much is at stake.

The Floridian side has won two games in a row, and both were needed badly. They had fallen thrice in a row prior to that, each contest coming against a team battling for playoff spots, making those defeats sting just a bit more. Miami is somewhat difficult to trust against the spread, having gone only 4-6 in their past 10 outings. The Heat sports the second-best defence in the NBA with respect to points conceded per game and Philly the third-best. The under feels like a smart move here.

Although it’s a bit late to be thinking about finishing first in the Eastern Conference, second place is still within reach. The deficit was cut to two games after defeating the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. The 76ers have cooled off a bit in recent weeks, what with their 5-5 win-loss record over the previous 10 contests. To be fair, the schedule has not been easy, with road games against the Warriors, Nuggets, and Bucks.

Miami Heat

Win is a win, no matter how one looks at it. Still, the lowly Detroit Pistons made the playoff-bound Heat work up a sweat to get the victory on Tuesday.

The 118-105 final score belies a contest in which the host Pistons fought tooth and nail to play spoiler. The truth of the matter is that Jimmy Butler played out of his mind in the final period. He only scored 27 on the night, but a bucket load came with the contest winding down and the outcome still in the balance.  Butler made good on tons of drives and contested shots in the fourth quarter. Gabe Vincent was excellent from long range, going 6-for-11 on the night, with several key shots coming in the second half. Jaden Ivey has unquestionably been Detroit’s bright light all season, and so he was on Tuesday, scoring 30 and making plays all over the court, including one steal.

Philadelphia 76ers

On the topic of teams fighting to the death to earn a win, the Boston-Philadelphia game Tuesday was one heck of an example. Boston had led the season series 3-0 and had a chance to put to bed Philly’s threat for second in the conference.

Almost exactly like their battle in late February, the tilt came down to the wire, with mesmerizing shots in the final minute that kept fans guessing. The Celtics will surely appreciate that someone not named Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown led the team in points. Derrick White, surprisingly, earned that honour with his 26. That included a bewitching three (and a foul) with two seconds left. But Joel Embiid reminded anyone who bothered to watch why he is a prime MVP candidate. 52 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists. He was all over the place, and when Philly needed him most, he delivered. Time and again he drained two-point jumpers just outside the key, regardless of who defended him. Forgotten man P. J. Tucker drained not one, not two, but three threes in the closing minutes, helping the cause in a 103-101 win.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Heat vs. 76ers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Heat Team Leaders

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 22.91
Assists	Jimmy Butler 5.31
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.17
FG%	Cody Zeller 62.7
Steals	Jimmy Butler 1.83
Blocks	Bam Adebayo 0.81

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 33.08
Assists	James Harden 10.66
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.15
FG%	Saben Lee 75
Steals	De'Anthony Melton 1.64
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.7

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 26.91
Assists	Jimmy Butler 5.86
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.87
FG%	Haywood Highsmith 61.5
Steals	Jimmy Butler 1.82
Blocks	Tyler Herro 1

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 23.67
Assists	James Harden 8.27
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 9.78
FG%	Jaden Springer 100
Steals	James Harden 1.82
Blocks	Joel Embiid 2.78

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

76ers Team Leaders

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 22.91
Assists	Jimmy Butler 5.31
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.17
FG%	Cody Zeller 62.7
Steals	Jimmy Butler 1.83
Blocks	Bam Adebayo 0.81

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 33.08
Assists	James Harden 10.66
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.15
FG%	Saben Lee 75
Steals	De'Anthony Melton 1.64
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.7

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 26.91
Assists	Jimmy Butler 5.86
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.87
FG%	Haywood Highsmith 61.5
Steals	Jimmy Butler 1.82
Blocks	Tyler Herro 1

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 23.67
Assists	James Harden 8.27
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 9.78
FG%	Jaden Springer 100
Steals	James Harden 1.82
Blocks	Joel Embiid 2.78

Injuries

Miami

Cody Zeller (PF)

Prob Wed Foot - 06 / 06 / 23

Caleb Martin (SF)

Prob Sun Illness - 03 / 06 / 23

Cody Zeller (PF)

Prob Sun Foot - 03 / 06 / 23

Gabe Vincent (SG)

Ques Mon Ankle - 28 / 05 / 23

Gabe Vincent (SG)

Ques Sat Ankle - 24 / 05 / 23

Kevin Love (PF)

Prob Tues Ankle - 21 / 05 / 23

Omer Yurtseven (C)

Ques Fri Nose - 18 / 05 / 23

Cody Zeller (PF)

Prob Wed Illness - 15 / 05 / 23

Jimmy Butler (PF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 11 / 05 / 23

Haywood Highsmith (SF)

Prob Fri Knee - 11 / 05 / 23

Philadelphia

Tyrese Maxey (PG)

day-to-day Ankle - 01 / 05 / 23

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Prob Mon Illness - 20 / 04 / 23

Jalen McDaniels (PF)

Prob Thurs Illness - 19 / 04 / 23

Dewayne Dedmon (C)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 14 / 04 / 23

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Prob Sat Foot - 12 / 04 / 23

James Harden (SG)

Prob Sat Achilles - 08 / 04 / 23

Tobias Harris (SF)

Prob Sat Hip - 08 / 04 / 23

Georges Niang (SF)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

James Harden (SG)

Out Fri Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Tobias Harris (SF)

Out Fri Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Injuries

Miami

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Cody Zeller (PF)	Prob Wed	Foot - 06 / 06 / 23	1-2	1-2	+ -
Zeller is tending to a right foot sprain, but it is not expected to impact his status for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Nuggets.
Caleb Martin (SF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 03 / 06 / 23	1-3	1-3	+ -
Martin is nursing an illness, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 2 for the NBA Finals against the Nuggets.
Cody Zeller (PF)	Prob Sun	Foot - 03 / 06 / 23	1-3	1-3	+ -
Zeller is tending to a right foot sprain, but it is projected that he will face the Nuggets in Game 2 of the NBA finals.
Gabe Vincent (SG)	Ques Mon	Ankle - 28 / 05 / 23	3-4	1-6	+ -
Vincent is nursing a left ankle sprain, and it remains to be seen if he will dress for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics.
Gabe Vincent (SG)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 24 / 05 / 23	4-5	2-7	+ -
Vincent is hobbled by a left ankle sprain, and it is undetermined if he will suit up against the Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Kevin Love (PF)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 21 / 05 / 23	5-5	3-7	+ -
Love is nursing an ankle injury, but it is expected that he will partake in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics.
Omer Yurtseven (C)	Ques Fri	Nose - 18 / 05 / 23	6-6	4-8	+ -
Yurtseven is tending to a nasal contusion, and it is uncertain if he will be active for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Celtics.
Cody Zeller (PF)	Prob Wed	Illness - 15 / 05 / 23	6-6	4-8	+ -
Zeller is ailing from an illness, but it is projected that he will be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Celtics.
Jimmy Butler (PF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 11 / 05 / 23	6-7	5-8	+ -
Butler is dealing with a right ankle sprain, but he is still expected to be in the lineup for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals versus the Knicks.
Haywood Highsmith (SF)	Prob Fri	Knee - 11 / 05 / 23	6-7	5-8	+ -
Highsmith has tendinitis in his left knee, but it is not projected to affect his status ahead of the matchup against the Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Philadelphia

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tyrese Maxey (PG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 01 / 05 / 23	4-3	4-3	+ -
Maxey exited Monday's game with an ankle injury, and it is unknown if he will return.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Prob Mon	Illness - 20 / 04 / 23	5-3	4-5	+ -
House Jr. is ailing from an illness, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Celtics Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Jalen McDaniels (PF)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 19 / 04 / 23	5-3	4-5	+ -
McDaniels is nursing an illness, but it is not expected to affect his status against the Nets in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Dewayne Dedmon (C)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 14 / 04 / 23	7-3	6-5	+ -
Dedmon has an unspecified ailment, but it is projected that he will participate in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Prob Sat	Foot - 12 / 04 / 23	7-3	6-5	+ -
House Jr. has a foot injury, but it is likely that he will suit up against the Nets in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
James Harden (SG)	Prob Sat	Achilles - 08 / 04 / 23	8-3	7-5	+ -
Harden is managing a left Achilles injury, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Prob Sat	Hip - 08 / 04 / 23	8-3	7-5	+ -
Harris is nursing a left hip injury, but it is expected that he will be in the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Nets.
Georges Niang (SF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	8-3	7-5	+ -
Niang is tending to left knee soreness, but it is likely that he will partake in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
James Harden (SG)	Out Fri	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	8-4	8-5	+ -
Harden will not face the Hawks on Friday as he will be given a day of rest.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Out Fri	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	8-4	8-5	+ -
Harris is out of the starting lineup for Friday's matchup with the Hawks as he will be handed a day of rest.