The Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament begins with showcasing the 7th-seeded Philadelphia 76ers against the 8th-seeded Miami Heat.
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The Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament begins Wednesday night with the first game showcasing the 7th-seeded Philadelphia 76ers against the 8th-seeded Miami Heat. The Sixers enter the matchup having faced the challenge of playing without 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid for 43 games this season.
The Miami Heat also struggled with injuries throughout the season and are back in the Play-In Tournament for the second year in a row. The game is set to begin at 7:00 PM EST.
This season, the Miami Heat are once again aiming to progress through the Play-In Tournament as they strive to defend their Eastern Conference Title. The Philadelphia 76ers enter the Play-In Tournament appearing aware that they’re unexpected contenders, yet eager to progress to the next stage.
For the Heat, SG Josh Richardson is out for the season. PF Kevin Love, F Duncan Robinson, and SG Terry Rozier are all game-time decisions but are expected to play. As for the 76ers, C Joel Embiid, F KJ Martin, and SG De’Anthony Melton are all game-time decisions but are expected to play.
The Heat ended the regular season with a 46-36 record, battling through injuries to key players like shooting guard Tyler Herro, who was sidelined for 40 games due to injury.
At the trade deadline, the Heat made changes to their roster by bringing in veteran shooting guard Terry Rozier to boost the team’s scoring. Ultimately, the team’s success in advancing from the Play-In and into the Eastern Conference playoff contention will likely depend on the performances of dependable Heat stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
The Sixers wrapped up the NBA regular season with a 47-35 record, pushing past the Heat to claim the 7th spot in the conference after securing victories in their last eight games. Philadelphia could have potentially landed in the top four if they hadn’t faced the setback of losing MVP Joel Embiid to a knee injury, which sidelined him for a significant portion of the season.
Overall, Embiid sat out 43 games this season. When he played, the Sixers boasted a strong record of 31-8 and were contenders near the summit of the Eastern Conference. In his absence, Philadelphia struggled, managing just a 16-25 record and resembling more of a team vying for a lottery pick.
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