After a dominating performance last night against the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers are back in action tonight in Miami against the Heat.

The Sixers have won eight out of their last 10 games and currently find themselves in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

The Heat are also winners of eight out of their last 10 games and enter tonight’s matchup on a four game winning streak, sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference.

Butler Returns for the Heat | Sixers relatively healthy

The second leg of any back-to-back is always tough and tonight will certainly be no different, even more so with every team in the NBA dealing with their fair share of injuries and COVID protocols throughout the season. The Sixers and Heat are no exception.

The Heat have relied on their depth to carry them on their four game streak, and just last game, Jimmy Butler returned to the lineup after being the previous three due to an ankle injury he suffered against the Golden State Warriors on January 3rd. Butler scored 23 points against the Hawks to extend their winning streak to four games.

Update: 2:45PM
Matisse Thybulle is OUT with right shoulder soreness.

As for the Sixers, they are relatively healthy. Shake Milton and Danny Green are both out, as is Ben Simmons. But as Joel Embiid said last night after the Celtics win, this team is finally healthy and needs to stay healthy if they want to continue their current success.

Embiid also added that he doesn’t think there’s really no urgency to change anything with the Sixers roster and that they have everything they need, noting that the Sixers are 21-9 when healthy.

Embiid, Curry, Maxey, Harris

Last night, Joel Embiid continued his dominance, scoring 25 points in 32 minutes of action, with 13 rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block. Tobias Harris and Seth Curry both scored 17 points, with Tyrese Maxey following Embiid with 23 points.

Tonight, the Sixers need to continue to play solid defense around the perimeter and shut down a Miami Heat team that loves to shoot the three ball. There’s no one in the NBA that can stop Joel Embiid.

The question with the Sixers remains with the supporting cast and players like Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, and Tyrese Maxey consistently providing offensive support around Embiid.

When at least two out of those three players are shooting the ball well, the Sixers look like one of the best teams in the East.

Odds via Parx Sportsbook, the official sports betting app of The Liberty Line

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Tonight will be a tough one for the Sixers. I hate looking at any bets on the second leg of a back-to-back and even more so when the 76ers had to leave Philly to head to Miami. Expect tonight’s game to be close, but unfortunately, I’m going to be on the Miami Heat Moneyline at -109.