76ers vs. Heat Prediction, Odds & Picks: Playoff Intensity Arrives Early in Philly

The Eastern Conference playoff picture gets a major closeup this Thursday as the Philadelphia 76ers host the Miami Heat at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. With the regular season winding down, the stakes couldn't be higher. Philadelphia currently holds the No. 6 seed, clinging to a precarious 1.5-game lead over the No. 8 Heat. A win here gives the Sixers breathing room, while a loss drags them dangerously close to the play-in tournament mix. Momentum is on the side of the hosts. The Sixers recently snapped a skid with a commanding 135-114 victory over the Indiana Pacers, a game that saw former MVP Joel Embiid return to the floor with a vengeance, dropping 27 points in just 26 minutes. Alongside...