The Sixers host the Miami Heat Wednesday night in a clash of titans. It’s a game with monumental stakes — Jimmy Butler returns to face his former teammate, Joel Embiid. The winner gets to book a date to the Big Apple to take on Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and the No. 2 seed New York Knicks.
The loser will get one more crack at the NBA Playoffs by later hosting the winner of the Bulls-Hawks Play-In game. The loser of Wednesday night’s epic Sixers (47-35)-Heat (46-36) battle in Philly should still be favored over either Chicago or Atlanta, but with a win there, that team’s “reward” is a trip to visit the 64-18 (league-best) No.