Joel Embiid is back in the 76ers’ lineup just in time to help guide them back into the NBA playoffs, albeit via the play-in route.
However, Jimmy Butler and the Heat stand in their way.
Philadelphia was one of the best teams in the NBA when Embiid was available, boasting a 31-8 record.
However, the Sixers won just 16 of their 43 games when Embiid was sidelined this season, dropping them from atop the Eastern Conference to the No. 7 seed.
Can Embiid put together a huge offensive performance to propel the Sixers past the Heat, or will Miami again rally in the postseason for an unexpected, deep run?
The reigning league MVP is the focus of one of two player props on our betting card for Wednesday’s Eastern Conference play-in games.
Joel Embiid Under 30.5 points (-115, PointsBet)
If you are an avid NBA fan, then you are well aware of Bam Adebayo’s exceptional versatility and switch-ability on the defensive end of the floor.
Few players in the NBA can truly defend every position, but Adebayo is one of them, using his length, quick hands and feet, athleticism and defensive IQ to deter opponents from taking him one-on-one.
This season, Adebayo and the Heat have held opposing centers to the second-fewest points per game in the NBA.
Unfortunately for the 76ers, Embiid finds himself in this less-than-ideal situation, facing off against Adebayo in the play-in tournament Wednesday.
In seven career postseason games versus Adebayo and the Heat, Embiid has averaged 19.3 points, 10 rebounds and 1.9 assists on 42.3 percent shooting from the field.
His overall playoff stats in general are pedestrian by his standards, as he averages 24 ppg on 46/28/82 percent shooting in the postseason.
For this play-in game, Embiid’s point total holds steady at 30.5 points, which could be concerning for Over backers given his career playoff performance against Miami and that he will be playing in just his sixth game back from injury.
Miami also hasn’t fouled opponents much this season (fourth in fouls per game), making Embiid’s climb to 31 or more points even steeper.
Nikola Jovic Over 6.5 points (-118, DraftKings)
After scarcely seeing the floor as a rookie, Jovic cracked the tough Miami rotation this season, starting at power forward for the Heat for most of the second half.
Still, his minutes are inconsistent, ranging from 15 to almost 40 in his past 14 games.
His offensive statistics also follow suit, as he logged a 23-point outing against Atlanta on April 9 but scored just six points the following night against Dallas.
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Despite the inconsistency in his minutes and stats, Jovic offers some value in this spot for the Heat.
In his last 14 games, he averaged 11.1 points on 47/38/93 shooting, eclipsing this 6.5-point betting line 10 times.
Additionally, the Heat are banged up, with Terry Rozier already ruled out, leaving Miami shorthanded in a crucial game.