NBA Playoffs 2018: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat Game 3 live stream: Watch online
By Chris Stone
The Miami Heat stole the Philadelphia 76ers’ home court advantage with a vintage Dwyane Wade performance in Game 2. Now they’ll look to go up 2-1 with a win on Thursday night.
Between Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, it was the Philadelphia 76ers who figured to feature the modern day star power in their opening round series with the Miami Heat. On Monday night, however, future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade stole the show as he turned back the clock in a 113-103 Heat victory to even the series.
Wade finished with 28 points in 26 minutes on 11-of-16 shooting from the field as he posted a team high +16. It was a vintage performance from Flash as he dominated the game in the mid-range and set off the Heat’s closing sequence with a steal and slam with just over four minutes remaining.
Now, two questions loom larger over Thursday night’s Game 3 as the Sixers look to bounce back from their first loss since March 13. First and foremost is the status of Embiid. The Philadelphia big man hasn’t played since he suffered a concussion and orbital bone fracture against the New York Knicks on March 28.
Embiid expressed frustration after Monday’s loss in Instagram, saying he was “sick and tired of being babied.” He still hasn’t been cleared for contact, but a surprise return would likely provide Philadelphia with a significant boost on the offensive end.
Absent an Embiid return, the Sixers will need to re-discover their 3-point shot. They made just 7-of-36 attempts in Game 2 after a blistering 18-of-28 performance in their opening game win. Miami has been willing to aggressively cheat on Philadelphia’s off-ball screens in order to deny clean looks, so expect the Sixers to find some open back cuts before getting back to their 3-point launching ways.
Date: Thursday, April 19
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Miami, Florida
Venue: American Airlines Arena
TV Info: TNT, FOX Sports Sun, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Live Stream: Watch live on FuboTV. Sign up now for a free seven-day trial.
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Whatever the outcome of the above, Thursday night’s Game 3 figures to be a turning pivotal turning point in the series. Miami has an opportunity to snag a 2-1 lead with another home game immediately thereafter while Philadelphia could swipe back home court advantage with a victory.