Philadelphia 76ers (51-31, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (53-29, first in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Heat -8.5; over/under is 208.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Heat host first series matchup
BOTTOM LINE: The Miami Heat host the Philadelphia 76ers to open the Eastern Conference second round. Miami and Philadelphia tied the regular season series 2-2. The 76ers won the last regular season meeting 113-106 on March 21 led by 28 points from Tyrese Maxey, while Jimmy Butler scored 27 points for the Heat.
The Heat have gone 35-17 against Eastern Conference teams. Miami is eighth in the league with 25.5 assists per game. Kyle Lowry leads the Heat averaging 7.5.
The 76ers are 32-20 in conference games. Philadelphia is ninth in the Eastern Conference scoring 109.9 points per game and is shooting 46.6%.
TOP PERFORMERS: Lowry is averaging 13.4 points and 7.5 assists for the Heat. Butler is averaging 27.3 points over the last 10 games for Miami.
Maxey is averaging 17.5 points and 4.3 assists for the 76ers. Joel Embiid is averaging 30.3 points and 12.3 rebounds while shooting 55.6% over the past 10 games for Philadelphia.
LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 8-2, averaging 115.6 points, 40.0 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 8.4 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.4 points per game.
76ers: 7-3, averaging 116.5 points, 40.8 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 7.3 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.6 points.
INJURIES: Heat: Jimmy Butler: day to day (knee), Kyle Lowry: day to day (hamstring).
76ers: Charles Bassey: day to day (shoulder), Joel Embiid: out (concussion/eye).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by
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