Philadelphia-76ers vs Miami Heat Picks and Predictions February 5th 2025

Philadelphia-76ers vs Miami Heat February 5th 2025

At 7:30 ET, the Miami Heat (-120) will travel to take on the Philadelphia 76ers (+100) in a matchup of Eastern Conference foes. The over/under line for this game is currently set at 215.5 points.

As of right now, the Heat are 1.5-point favorites on the road. Miami comes into this game with a record of 24-24 and is currently 7th in the Eastern Conference. On the other side, the 76ers are 11th in the East and have a record of 20-29.

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Heat vs. 76ers Key Information

Miami fell to 24-24 on the season after a 133-124 road loss to the Bulls on Tuesday. The Heat, who were favored by 3.5 points, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 257, well over the 228.5-point line.

Miami appeared to be in control after a 10-0 run extended their lead from 79-78 to 88-79. However, they couldn’t hold on, as they were outscored 39-21 in the 4th quarter.

In their 133-124 loss to the Bulls, the Heat hit 17 threes, shooting 38.6% from deep and 47.8% overall. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro both scored 23 points, with Herro adding 9 assists despite shooting just 33.3% from the field and 27.3% from three.

Nikola Jovic contributed 20 points, connecting on 5 threes at a 71.4% clip. Kel’el Ware added 17 points, 13 of which came in the opening quarter.

Defensively, the Heat struggled against the Bulls, giving up 133 points on 52% shooting. They allowed 32 points in the 1st quarter and 34 in the 3rd, but their worst stretch came in the 4th, where they gave up 39 points.

Miami also had trouble defending the three, as Chicago hit 19 threes at a 46% clip. The Heat sent the Bulls to the line 22 times, where they made 18 free throws. The Heat finished with 4 steals and 3 blocks.

The 76ers improved to 20-29 on the season with a 118-116 win over the Mavericks on Tuesday. Philadelphia was favored by 4.5 points but didn’t cover the spread, while the game’s total of 234 points went over the 227.5-point line.

After Dallas went on a 10-0 run early, the 76ers responded by outscoring the Mavericks 36-22 in the 3rd quarter. Philadelphia entered the 4th quarter with a 94-87 lead but had to hold off a late push from Dallas, who outscored them 29-24 in the final period.

Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers to a win over the Mavericks, scoring 33 points and dishing out 13 assists, shooting 59.1% from the field. Joel Embiid added 29 points and 11 rebounds, while Guerschon Yabusele contributed 19 points, hitting 87.5% of his shots.

Philadelphia shot 54.7% from the field, but struggled from beyond the arc, making 11 threes at a 33.3% rate. Maxey scored 11 points in the 1st quarter, and added 10 more in the 3rd.

The 76ers gave up 116 points to the Mavericks but managed to hold on for the win. They struggled defensively in the 1st and 2nd quarters, allowing 31 and 34 points, respectively. However, they tightened up in the 3rd, giving up just 22 points, before allowing 29 in the 4th.

Philadelphia held Dallas to 33% shooting from beyond the arc, with the Mavericks making 11 threes. The 76ers also recorded 5 steals and 4 blocks. On the boards, they gave up 15 offensive rebounds.

As the underdogs with a spread of +1.5, we recommend going with the 76ers on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 215.5, and our model predicts the Heat and 76ers to score a combined 223 points. We recommend betting on the over.

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Sixers and Heat, Both Short-Handed, Set to Tangle in Philly

With the NBA trade deadline looming on Thursday, the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers will battle on Wednesday night in a matchup where several key players will be missing.

Trade Rumors Swirling Around Miami’s Jimmy Butler

The Heat (26-24) will again be without Jimmy Butler, who is serving a team-imposed suspension. However, his name continues to dominate trade rumors, with multiple Western Conference teams linked to a potential deal for the disgruntled star.

Miami has lost two of its last three and is coming off a 133-124 defeat to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro each had 23 points, while rookie Kel’el Ware posted 17 points and 12 rebounds.

While Butler’s status remains uncertain, Adebayo is focused on the players who are available.

“At this point, you understand that it’s a business, and you don’t forget that at any point,” Adebayo said.

Philadelphia Adjusting Without Paul George and Joel Embiid

The Sixers (31-18) will likely be without Paul George (finger), and Joel Embiid is resting after returning from a 15-game absence in Tuesday’s 118-116 win over the Mavericks.

Embiid had an impressive triple-double in his return, logging 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in 36 minutes. But Sixers coach Nick Nurse confirmed after the game that the reigning NBA MVP will sit out the second game of the back-to-back.

Despite injuries, Philadelphia has won five of its last seven games and made a roster move Tuesday, acquiring Quentin Grimes from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Caleb Martin.

“He’s played good. He’s been out there shooting the ball pretty good,” Nurse said of Grimes. “I think he’s a good addition.”

What to Expect in This Matchup

The Heat will need to tighten up defensively after allowing 133 points to the Bulls. Head coach Erik Spoelstra was frustrated by his team’s performance.

“We were never able to really contain the ball regardless of what scheme we were in,” Spoelstra said. “That’s just a tough one. Our defense didn’t travel tonight, and we paid the price.”

Philadelphia will rely heavily on Tyrese Maxey, who had 28 points and eight assists in the win over Dallas, along with Tobias Harris and newly acquired Grimes.

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Key Players to Watch

• Tyrese Maxey (Sixers): 28 points vs. Dallas; will be the primary scoring option without Embiid.
• Bam Adebayo (Heat): Averaging 20.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game; needs to anchor Miami’s defense.
• Quentin Grimes (Sixers): Acquired Tuesday; could make his debut in an expanded role.
• Tyler Herro (Heat): Miami’s top perimeter threat with 21.5 PPG, will look to exploit a weakened Sixers defense.

Series History & Outlook

• The Heat won the first matchup 106-89 in November, behind Butler’s 30 points and 10 rebounds.
• Philadelphia has won five of seven, but missing Embiid and George makes this a winnable game for Miami.
• The Heat need a win to stay above .500, while the Sixers want to maintain their top-four seed in the East.

Expect a scrappy, defensive battle as both teams navigate injuries and trade distractions heading into the deadline.