The Philadelphia 76ers host the Miami Heat at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Thursday, May 13, with tip-off at 7:30 p.m. ET. Both of these teams have something to play for in this one, as the Sixers haven’t yet secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Heat can still move up to fourth.
Which team will find a way to pick up a huge victory before the playoffs? Find out in our 76ers vs. Heat picks and predictions.
76ers vs Heat game info
• Location: American Airlines Arena, Miami, Fla.
• Date: Thursday, May 13, 2021
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: BSSUN, NBCS-PH
76ers vs Heat odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Compare NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
NBA Sharp Money and Line Movement Report
By Patrick EversonThis line jumped the fence at PointsBet USA, opening at Philadelphia -2 Wednesday night, flipping to Miami -1 by midmorning and then on to Heat -2.5 as of 4:30 p.m. ET. It's two-way point-spread action, with 52 percent of bets on the Heat and 51 percent of money on the 76ers, who likely won't have Joel Embiid (illness). The total moved from 217.5 to 218.5 and back, with the Over getting 69 percent of bets/73 percent of money.
Check out the full line movement for this game76ers at Heat betting preview
Injuries
76ers: C Joel Embiid (doubtful), G Furkan Korkmaz (probable), F Matisse Thybulle (questionable).
Heat: F Jimmy Butler (questionable), G Victor Oladipo (out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Heat are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Heat.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
At this point, it seems as though Joel Embiid won’t play in this game. The 76ers star is dealing with a non-COVID illness, and he apparently didn’t travel to Miami with the rest of the team. If that’s the case, it’s hard to envision a scenario in which Doc Rivers’ team finds a way to earn a victory over a hungry Miami group. In fact, with how much this game means to the Heat, it would have been tough to pick against Jimmy Butler and Co., even with the Sixers at full strength.
Butler is actually questionable for Miami in this game, but he is the ultimate competitor and will likely be out there for a game as big as this one. Just a few weeks ago, the Heat looked destined to end up in the play-in tournament, but they now have a realistic chance to end up with home-court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. They are currently just a half-game out of fourth place, but they’ll need to win the next three games in order to remove all doubt.
The Sixers are obviously not a bad team without Embiid, but they certainly aren’t nearly as good. Embiid is the team’s defensive anchor in the paint, and he’s also its best offensive player. Without him out there, Miami will be able to focus on stopping Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris, and the Heat have the personnel to do so if Butler ends up playing.
Offensively, Miami is third in the NBA in offensive rating over the last 10 games, which makes this an interesting meeting with a Philadelphia team that is first in defensive rating in that span. However, good offense trumps good defense any day of the week, and the Heat are cruising on that end right now.
PREDICTION: Heat -1.0 (-110)
Over/Under pick
With Embiid in the lineup, the Sixers often dump the ball in to him in the mid-post area and let him go to work. That significantly slows their style of play, and that is part of the reason that Philadelphia isn’t in the Top 10 in pace this season.
Without him, look for the Sixers to speed things up a little. They have the type of team that should allow them to get out and run. And while the Heat are one of the two slowest teams in the league, they have been scoring at will as of late.
Miami is averaging 129.5 points per game over the last two contests, and the team has gone Over the total in each of its last 10 contests. Until that streak ends, just keep riding with it.
PREDICTION: Over 217.5 (-110)
Player prop pick
Bam Adebayo has scored at least 20 points in nine of the last 14 games, and he should be able to get himself going without Embiid in the lineup for Philadelphia. Adebayo is one of the strongest players in all of basketball, and his relentless motor and world-class skill makes him an extremely difficult player to cover.
Adebayo’s mid-range game has been working really well this season, and he’s also a good passer out of the post. However, with Embiid out, he should be able to just get himself a couple of easy buckets at the rim. Dwight Howard is still a solid defender inside the paint, but he’s not as effective as Embiid is at protecting the rim.
PREDICTION: Bam Adebayo Over 19.5 Points (+100)
76ers vs Heat betting card
- Heat -1.0 (-110)
- Over 217.5 (-110)
- Bam Adebayo Over 19.5 Points (+100)
Picks made on 5/13/2021 at 10:30 a.m. ET
Did you know that if you parlayed today’s NBA 76ers vs. Heat picks, you could win $62.89 on a $10 bet?
Use our NBA parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where can I bet on the NBA?
You can bet on NBA odds at every online and casino sportsbook, including NBA moneylines, spreads, Over/Under totals, and a ton of NBA prop odds. Head over to our best sportsbooks for NBA betting in your area.
