(Photo : (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)) PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – FEBRUARY 27: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat shoots a lay up previous Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers through the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center on February 27, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this {photograph}, User is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Images License Agreement.
The NBA Play-In Matchups at the moment are set.
The No.7 seed Philadelphia 76ers are set to face the No.8 seed Miami Heat within the 2024 NBA Play-In.
Both the Heat and the 76ers stars, Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid, have had a fantastic historical past with one another. They shared the court docket collectively on the notorious Kawhi Leonard buzzer beater that despatched the Toronto Raptors to the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Finals and the Philadelphia 76ers house.
Now they are going to be on opposing sides, dealing with up in opposition to one another with the winner attending to face the No.2 seeded New York Knicks, whereas the loser will play the winner of the Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks NBA Play-In match.
Can the Heat make one other Cinderella run to the NBA Finals, or will the 76ers put themselves again into the Championship dialog with an announcement win?
RELATED ARTICLE: 2024 NBA Play-In Preview: Kings Amongst Warriors, Sacramento Takes on Golden State
2024 NBA Play-In: Heat vs. 76ers
Date: Wednesday, April seventeenth
Time: 7:00 PM
Network: ESPN
Location: Wells Fargo Center
This is a matchup that might go both method as each groups are able to making deep postseason runs regardless of the place they fell within the standings.
The 76ers made a sturdy finish of the season push, successful their ultimate eight video games to shut out the season.
They had been at one level sitting on the high of the Eastern Conference earlier than Joel Embiid went down with a knee harm that compelled the reigning MVP to overlook 30 video games of the common season.
The Heat additionally managed to remain afloat this season, being with out Tyler Herro for many of it and Jimmy Butler lacking 20 video games.
Their earlier matchups noticed each groups cut up the season sequence 2-2. Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler have solely performed in opposition to one another in one among their matchups.
If any of their earlier encounters can function a sign to how this sport will go, it could be their Valentine’s Day matchup the place the Heat pulled out the 109-104 win and their April 14th sport that noticed the Sixers pull out a 109-105 win; indicating that we may very well be in retailer for a detailed one in Philly on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Bulls: DeMar DeRozan’s Total on-Court Playing Time This Season Sets NBA Record This Decade
2024 NBA Play-In: Matchup within the Paint
The matchup to observe is the battle within the paint between Joel Embiid and Bam Adebayo.
In the 5 video games since his return, Embiid has posted 30.4 factors, 9.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks in 30.5 minutes per sport.
Adebayo is among the finest defensive bigs within the NBA however could have his palms full in making an attempt to decelerate the Process. He did a strong job neutralizing Joel Embiid once they final met within the 2022 NBA Playoffs, however Embiid has solely gotten higher since that sequence.
Bam Adebayo will want one other massive night time defensively if the Miami Heat have any hope of beating the Philadelphia 76ers.
RELATED ARTICLE: Spurs: Victor Wembanyama Warns the NBA of His Future Potential Prime
2024 NBA Play-In: Final Verdict
Both groups met within the 2022 NBA Playoffs, with the Heat taking down the 76ers in 5 video games; and now they meet once more with typically the identical rosters.
The Heat are in acquainted territory, having made the NBA Finals coming from the NBA Play-In final season. Still, they’ll possible have their palms full with a 76ers crew that’s peaking on the proper time.
The 76ers got house court docket benefit and the Heat are lacking some key gamers resembling Duncan Robinson and Josh Richardson.
Our Winner: The Philadelphia 76ers off a powerful Joel Embiid efficiency.
READ MORE: Should Lakers Be Concerned About Anthony Davis’ Injury Ahead of Play-In?
© 2023 Sportsworldnews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce with out permission.