Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers can confirm their spot in the Eastern Conference semi-finals when they take on the Miami Heat in Game 5 of their first-round matchup at the Wells Fargo Center. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10am (AEST).
The Sixers come into the fifth game of the series on the brink of advancement, having won three of the first four.
They took Game 1 in reasonably convincing fashion, but the concerns were aired as a Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia outfit were bullied into a loss in Game 2.
It meant they gave up home-court advantage and would need to win on the road, but they wasted absolutely no time doing that, picking up a dominant 20-point victory in Game 3.
Embiid made his return and led all scorers with 23 alongside the Heat’s Goran Dragic, while Ben Simmons has continued to put up numbers matching his incredible rookie regular season.
The Australian came up with a triple-double during Game 4, resulting in a four-point victory for the 76ers, while JJ Redick was also key with 24 points.
If Simmons and Embiid continue to combine as they have in the last two outings though, it’s going to be incredibly difficult for the Heat to fight back and win this game, let alone all of the next three to take the series.
Much of the Heat’s performance will rest on the shoulders of Dwyane Wade and Dragic. Wade led all scorers in the Game 4 loss, trying to rally his team, while Dragic was an All-Star this year and has averaged 21 points per game across the first three in this series.
Yet, the depth of Philly should outweigh whatever the Miami duo can serve up. With Embiid struggling through injury at different points, a couple of days off ahead of the second round could be all too crucial for the Sixers at this point, especially with the Boston-Milwaukee series two-all and looking like it could go the distance.
Prediction
While there was a blitz during Game 2, the Sixers have hit back strongly in the next two and the chance of them losing this seems to be slim.
They should win and buy themselves a couple of days to relax and recover ahead of the semi-finals.
76ers by 12.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Game 5 in this series from 10am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Lara
Guest
BB take a bow, you learnt well at SA Spurs under a great coach .
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Nice prediction Scott!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this morning on The Roar for our live coverage of the NBA playoffs, with the 76ers qualifying for the second round. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. The Roar will be back with more NBA playoffs action in the coming days, so be sure to join us. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match and series Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME No one interested in playing this game out. The clock will expire and Philadelphia have advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a convincing 13-point victory over the Miami Heat. It was far from the best game of basketball you will ever see, but the 76ers have done the job today and will play either Boston or Milwaukee in what is set as a tantilising second round battle. If it's Milwaukee, we get the battle of Simmons taking on fellow Aussies Thon Maker and Matthew Dellavedova. 76ers - 104 Heat - 91
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Redick makes both. 76ers - 104 Heat - 91
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Into the final half minute. No point in the slightest trying to foul now, but Miami do anyway and Redick will walk up the floor with 25 on the clock to shoot free throws. 76ers - 102 Heat - 91
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Redick no good on a three and Simmons has to rebound beyond halfcourt. He will run the clock down again with Illyasova losing it and Olynyk scoring. 76ers - 102 Heat - 91
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Simmons running the clock down here for the '6ers, then it's a cut back door from Belinelli who puts it up. There's a goaltend. Wade misses from deep and surely, into the final 80 seconds, that's going to be enough. 76ers - 102 Heat - 89
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Belinelli with a bucket from the high post, then Redick hits a huge three! Found just a glimmer of space, hit the shot and that might just about do it. 76ers - 100 Heat - 89
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Time continues to tick away, but that'll help the Heat! Ellington gets hot and sinks a three from the right wing. Belinelli answers straight back though. 76ers - 98 Heat - 87
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Miami with the ball then. They have it through Olynyk who drives past the defence and manages to drop it in, cutting the lead back to 11. Simmons with it, then it's Redick who finds some space, but misses from beyond the arc. Back up the floor and Wade pulls the trigger from deep, but it's no good. Foul on the rebound against Illyasova. 76ers - 95 Heat - 84
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Timeout on the floor. Miami are going to need something pretty special here. 76ers - 95 Heat - 82
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Redick good on both. 76ers - 95 Heat - 82
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Into the final four minutes. Here goes Simmons after a miss from the Heat as he shakes the defence, then finds Redick who is fouled pretty softly at the end of the shot clock. 76ers - 93 Heat - 82
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Simmons makes both. 76ers - 93 Heat - 82
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Simmons quickly back up the floor and he draws a foul, sending him to the line. 76ers - 91 Heat - 82
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Olynyk makes one. 76ers - 91 Heat - 82
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Philadelphia working it into the paint now and Simmons misses pushing across the lane. James Johnson goes quickly back up the floor, finds Olydik and he is fouled by Embiid. That's his fifth. 76ers - 91 Heat - 81
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Belinelli makes one, but then James Johnson can't control the rebound, dropping it over the baseline.. 76ers - 91 Heat - 81