Miami Heat vs Philadelphia 76ers Picks and Predictions November 18th 2024

Heat vs 76ers November 18th 2024

At 7:30 ET, the Miami Heat (-152) will host the Philadelphia 76ers (+128) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The over/under line is set at 213.

Philadelphia enters the game at 2-10 and has lost three straight. The Heat are 5-7 and currently sit in 8th place in the Eastern Conference.

76ers vs. Heat Key Information

Philadelphia’s struggles continued on Friday, as they fell to 2-10 this season with a 98-86 loss to the Magic. The 76ers, who were +2.5 point underdogs, not only lost but failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points came in well below the 209-point line, with both teams combining for just 184 points.

The 76ers looked poised for an upset after a 14-0 run, but they couldn’t maintain their momentum. They led 72-73 heading into the 4th quarter but were outscored 25-14 in the final period.

In their 98-86 loss to the Magic, the 76ers struggled offensively, shooting just 40.3% from the field and 32.3% from three-point range, hitting 10 threes overall. Jared McCain led the way, connecting on 5 threes at a 50% clip and finishing with 29 points and 4 assists.

McCain was particularly effective in the 3rd quarter, scoring 15 points. Joel Embiid added 20 points, with 10 coming in the 1st quarter, while Paul George contributed 13 points, 8 of which came in the 3rd.

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Despite a strong defensive effort, the 76ers couldn’t capitalize, allowing 98 points in their loss to the Magic. Philadelphia held Orlando to 24 points in the 1st quarter and just 19 in the 2nd, but the Magic managed 30 points in the 3rd. Overall, the 76ers kept the Magic to 43% shooting.

From beyond the arc, the 76ers limited the Magic to 11 threes on 29% shooting. Orlando also went 19/22 from the free-throw line. Philadelphia gave up 11 offensive rebounds but recorded 10 steals and 3 blocks.

• In their last three games away from home, the 76ers have a straight up record of 0-3 while going 0-3 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 96 points per game in these contests.
• Going back to their previous ten games as the underdog, Philadelphia has an ATS mark of 5-5 while going 2-8 straight up.
• Over their last five games, the 76ers have an over/under record of 1-4 and are 1-4 vs. the spread.

The Heat fell to 5-7 on the season after a 119-110 loss to the Pacers on Sunday. Miami, who entered the game as +3.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 229, just over the pre-game line of 228.

Miami got off to a slow start, trailing 28-20 after the 1st quarter. They bounced back in the 2nd, outscoring Indiana 29-24, but the Pacers pulled away again in the 3rd, taking a 10-point lead into the 4th. Miami edged Indiana 35-34 in the final quarter, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

In their 119-110 loss to the Pacers, the Heat shot just 40% from the field, but their three-point shooting was a bright spot, as they hit 19 threes at a 44.2% clip. Tyler Herro led the way, knocking down 7 threes at 63.6% efficiency, finishing with 28 points and 4 assists.

Bam Adebayo contributed 24 points and 8 rebounds, while Duncan Robinson added 20 points, hitting 5 threes at 71.4%. Herro was particularly impactful in the 4th quarter, scoring 19 of his 28 points in the final period.

Despite a solid 2nd quarter, the Heat’s defense struggled in the 3rd and 4th, allowing 33 and 34 points, respectively, in their 119-110 loss to the Pacers. Indiana shot 51% from the field, including 44% from beyond the arc, where they hit 13 threes.

Miami sent the Pacers to the line 20 times, where they converted 18 free throws. The Heat gave up 10 offensive rebounds and finished with 4 steals and 1 block.

We’re putting our money on the Heat to win, and have the projected score sitting at 149-136. We also like them to cover the spread, so our recommendation is to bet on the Heat at -3.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 213 and given that our model is projecting 285 points between the teams, we like the over.

Heat Look to Rebound at Home Against Struggling 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a surprisingly rough start this season, sitting at 2-10 as they prepare to face the Miami Heat on Monday night in Miami. Despite having made seven consecutive playoff appearances, the 76ers have yet to reach the conference finals since 2001. This year, expectations were high, especially after signing nine-time All-Star Paul George in July to form a new “Big Three” with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

However, things have not gone according to plan. Embiid is dealing with lingering knee issues and is also serving a three-game NBA suspension for an off-court incident. Meanwhile, Maxey has been sidelined with a hamstring injury for the past five games, and George has struggled with inconsistent play due to a bone bruise that delayed his season debut.

Embiid and George Underperforming

Embiid’s struggles have been particularly glaring. In his two games this season, the reigning MVP is averaging just 16.5 points per game, a steep drop-off from the 34.7 he posted last season. His shooting percentage has fallen drastically from 52.9% last season to just 26.9% this year. Additionally, his rebounding numbers have dipped from 11.0 per game to 5.5.

George, who has played in only six of the team’s 12 games, is also underperforming. His scoring average has dropped from 22.6 last season to 16.5, and he’s shooting just 39.8% from the field and 31.1% from beyond the arc.

With both Embiid and George struggling, and Maxey unavailable, Philadelphia’s offense has sputtered. In their most recent outing, a 98-86 loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday, the 76ers could not generate enough offense, with former Heat players Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin contributing just a combined seven points.

“It’s obviously frustrating,” George admitted. “Nobody here is happy with the start of our season. But (an NBA) season is long.”

Bright Spot for Philly: Rookie Jared McCain

The one silver lining for the 76ers has been the emergence of rookie guard Jared McCain, who was selected 16th overall out of Duke. McCain has been on fire lately, averaging 28.3 points over his past four games. He’s shooting an impressive 40.3% from 3-point range and remains perfect from the free-throw line, going 27-for-27.

Heat Struggling at Home

The Miami Heat have had their own challenges, particularly at home, where they are just 1-3. They are coming off a grueling six-game road trip that ended with a 119-110 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. In that game, Tyler Herro led Miami with 28 points, while Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson contributed 24 and 20 points, respectively.

Despite their offensive efforts, Miami was outplayed in the paint, being outscored 62-28 by Indiana.

“They came out with more urgency than us,” Herro said. “We wanted to protect the paint, and we didn’t do that.”

Adding to Miami’s woes, Jimmy Butler has missed the last four games with a sprained ankle, and reserve Jaime Jaquez Jr. also injured his ankle on Sunday, putting his availability in doubt for Monday.

“I’ve had a history of being able to bounce back from these ankle sprains,” Jaquez said. “I’ve had a lot of them.”

Key Matchup: Embiid and George vs. Herro and Adebayo

Both teams are under pressure to turn their seasons around. The Heat will look to get back on track at home, especially if Butler can return. Meanwhile, the 76ers desperately need better performances from Embiid and George to snap their current skid.

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What to Watch For:

1. Health and Availability: Will Butler suit up for Miami, and can Philadelphia get George and Embiid back to form?
2. Rookie Impact: Can McCain continue his scoring surge for the 76ers?
3. Defensive Adjustments: The Heat will need to protect the paint better after being outscored inside against Indiana.

With both teams struggling and hungry for a win, Monday’s game could set the tone for the rest of their seasons. Expect a competitive battle as the Heat try to defend their home court and the 76ers look to find some rhythm with their star-studded lineup.