76ers Host Heat In Play-In Matchup
The Philadelphia 76ers will host the Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament on Wednesday at Wells Fargo.
The winner of this matchup between the 76ers and the Heat will enter the Eastern Conference playoffs as the seventh seed. The prize will be an even more difficult matchup, however, as a battle against the New York Knicks awaits. The head-to-head season series shows an even 2-2 split. The Heat won the first two games in December and February, while Philadelphia stormed back to win the last two in March and April. The previous meeting was on April 4, where the Sixers battled hard to get a 109-105 win thanks to 37 points from Tyrese Maxey and 29 from Joel Embiid. That April 4 win was the only game Embiid has played against the Heat this season, and the star big man is expected to be available for this contest with no minute restrictions.
When looking at the body of work throughout the season, the 76ers certainly arrive into this matchup in better form, as Philadelphia carries an eight-game winning streak into this contest. The return of Joel Embiid has boosted the 76ers, and the team has gone 7-0 since his return from a gruesome injury that kept him sidelined for two entire months. However, the Heat can’t be taken for granted, as they also head into this Play-In contest, having won three of their last four. The Sixers might have the advantage of playing at home, where they went 25-16 in the regular season, but the Heat are no slouch on the road, either. Miami posted one of the best road records in the Eastern Conference at 24-17.
The 76ers are listing Joel Embiid (knee) as questionable, but he’s expected to play. De’Anthony Melton (back), KJ Martin (toe) and Robert Covington (knee) are also questionable. Meanwhile, Miami is listing Kevin Love (arm), Terry Rozier (neck) and Duncan Robinson (back) as questionable, while Josh Richardson (shoulder) is out for the season.
The winner of this matchup between the 76ers and the Heat will enter the Eastern Conference playoffs as the seventh seed. The prize will be an even more difficult matchup, however, as a battle against the New York Knicks awaits. The head-to-head season series shows an even 2-2 split. The Heat won the first two games in December and February, while Philadelphia stormed back to win the last two in March and April. The previous meeting was on April 4, where the Sixers battled hard to get a 109-105 win thanks to 37 points from Tyrese Maxey and 29 from Joel Embiid. That April 4 win was the only game Embiid has played against the Heat this season, and the star big man is expected to be available for this contest with no minute restrictions.
When looking at the body of work throughout the season, the 76ers certainly arrive into this matchup in better form, as Philadelphia carries an eight-game winning streak into this contest. The return of Joel Embiid has boosted the 76ers, and the team has gone 7-0 since his return from a gruesome injury that kept him sidelined for two entire months. However, the Heat can’t be taken for granted, as they also head into this Play-In contest, having won three of their last four. The Sixers might have the advantage of playing at home, where they went 25-16 in the regular season, but the Heat are no slouch on the road, either. Miami posted one of the best road records in the Eastern Conference at 24-17.
The 76ers are listing Joel Embiid (knee) as questionable, but he’s expected to play. De’Anthony Melton (back), KJ Martin (toe) and Robert Covington (knee) are also questionable. Meanwhile, Miami is listing Kevin Love (arm), Terry Rozier (neck) and Duncan Robinson (back) as questionable, while Josh Richardson (shoulder) is out for the season.
Hawks, Bulls Clash In Play-In
By Dan Bruno
The Chicago Bulls play host to the Atlanta Hawks at United Center in the NBA Play-In Tournament on Wenesday evening.
The Bulls (39-43) finished the regular season ninth place in the East and with a, 20-21, home record. They averaged 112.3 points per game, but they gave up an average of 113.7 points per game. DeMar DeRozan led the team through an endless cycle of injury trouble, as he averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.1 steals on the season. Coby White averaged 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 asssits, while Nikola Vucevic averaged 18.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Ayo Dosunmu (quadriceps) and Andre Drummond (ankle), who both did a great job of stepping up down the stretch of the season, are listed as questionable for action.
Meanwhile, the Hawks (36-46) finished the regular season with the 10th spot in the East and with a, 15-26, road record. They averaged 118.3 points per game, which ranked fifth most in the league this season, while they gave up an average of 120.5 points per game, which was third most in the league. Trae Young missed about six weeks of action with a hand injury but made his return and averaged 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists through the final three games of the season. Dejounte Murray did a great job leading the way while Young was sidelined and finished the season with impressive averages of 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Bogdan Bogdanovic and De'Andre Hunter also did a great job of stepping up through the second half of the season. Jalen Johnson (ankle), who has been a key frontcourt presence, will be sidelined for Wednesday's action. Onyeka Okongwu (toe) will also be sidelined.
The Bulls won the season series, 2-1, winning once at home and once on the road. However, the Hawks earned the win in their most recent meeting.
The Bulls (39-43) finished the regular season ninth place in the East and with a, 20-21, home record. They averaged 112.3 points per game, but they gave up an average of 113.7 points per game. DeMar DeRozan led the team through an endless cycle of injury trouble, as he averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.1 steals on the season. Coby White averaged 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 asssits, while Nikola Vucevic averaged 18.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Ayo Dosunmu (quadriceps) and Andre Drummond (ankle), who both did a great job of stepping up down the stretch of the season, are listed as questionable for action.
Meanwhile, the Hawks (36-46) finished the regular season with the 10th spot in the East and with a, 15-26, road record. They averaged 118.3 points per game, which ranked fifth most in the league this season, while they gave up an average of 120.5 points per game, which was third most in the league. Trae Young missed about six weeks of action with a hand injury but made his return and averaged 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists through the final three games of the season. Dejounte Murray did a great job leading the way while Young was sidelined and finished the season with impressive averages of 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Bogdan Bogdanovic and De'Andre Hunter also did a great job of stepping up through the second half of the season. Jalen Johnson (ankle), who has been a key frontcourt presence, will be sidelined for Wednesday's action. Onyeka Okongwu (toe) will also be sidelined.
The Bulls won the season series, 2-1, winning once at home and once on the road. However, the Hawks earned the win in their most recent meeting.