The No. 3 seed Philadelphia 76ers and No. 6 Miami Heat continued their competitive series with Game Three in Miami Thursday night. Philadelphia came out on top, 128-108.
Philadelphia successfully covered the two-point spread, while the game went easily over the Over/Under (O/U) of 216 points.
Odds for Game Four will be released shortly at the BetDSI Sportsbook. We anticipate Philadelphia will be a slight favorite. The 76ers will likely be favored by roughly five points.
In his first game of the playoffs, Joel Embiid scored 23 points. He added seven rebounds and four assists. Embiid suffered a broken orbital bone in March after his face bumped into rookie Markelle Fultz’s head. Embiid looked good in his first action in weeks. He played with a black face mask.
As expected, rookie floor general Ben Simmons also played a vital role. He racked up 19 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Marco Belinelli, a key midseason acquisition for Philadelphia, continued his hot shooting and scored 21.
Following his 28-point effort in Game Two, veteran guard Dwyane Wade scored eight for Miami. All-Star guard Goran Dragic led the Heat with 23 points and eight assists. Reserve forward Justise Winslow provided a spark off the bench and chipped in 19 points.
Seesaw Action
The first quarter was back and forth, and at its conclusion Philadelphia led 37-33. At the half, however, Miami held a one-point lead. The 76ers took command in the third quarter and pulled away down the stretch in the fourth.
With the win, Philadelphia takes a 2-1 series lead. Many wondered how the young squad would adapt in its first playoff action, but to date the 76ers have been impressive. They’ve gotten the better of a well-coached, experienced squad.
Game Three aired on TNT.
Game Four of the series will take place in Miami Saturday at 2:30 p.m. EST. The game will also be broadcast on TNT.
