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Opinion

Sixers-Heat preview: Looking to nab tiebreaker

A victory would give the Sixers a three-game lead over Miami and the two-team tiebreaker should they finish with the same record.

Goran Dragic (7), driving to the basket against Pelicans guard Ian Clark, averages 17.4 points for the Heat.
Goran Dragic (7), driving to the basket against Pelicans guard Ian Clark, averages 17.4 points for the Heat.Read moreVeronica Dominach / AP
    by Keith Pompey | Columnist
    Published 

76ers (32-26) at Miami Heat (31-29)

Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., at American Airlines Arena

Talking points

This matchup could have huge playoff-seeding implications. The Sixers (32-26) have the seventh-best record in the Eastern Conference. The Heat have the eighth-best. The top eight teams at the end of the regular season advance the playoffs. A victory would give the Sixers a three-game lead over Miami. It would also give them the two-team tiebreaker should they finish with the same record. That's because the Sixers have already won the previous two meetings. The teams will play their fourth and final game this season on March 8 in the Heat's arena.

How to watch and follow the game

  1. TV and streaming: NBC Sports Philadelphia and ESPN

  2. Radio: 97.5 FM

  3. Twitter: @PompeyOnSixers; @NBASarah

Starting lineups

Sixers (32-26)

33 Robert Covington SF 6-9  12.6 ppg. 5.5 rpg

9 Dario Saric PF 6-10  14.5 ppg. 6.9 rpg.

21 Joel Embiid C 7-2 23.9 ppg. 11.2 rpg.

17 JJ Redick SG 6-4  16.6 ppg. 3.2 apg.

25 Ben Simmons PG 6-10 16.7 ppg. 7.4 apg.

Coach: Brett Brown (fifth season, 107-278)

Injury report: Markelle Fultz (shoulder rehabilitation and working on his shot, out); Justin Anderson (sprained right ankle, out); Demetrius Jackson (left adductor strain, out); Furkan Korkmaz (Lisfranc injury, left foot, out).

Heat (31-29)

0 Josh Richardson SF 6-8  13.3 ppg. 3.4 rpg

20 Justise Winslow PF 6-7  6.4 ppg. 5.3 rpg.

21 Hassan Whiteside C 7-0 14.2 ppg. 11.9 rpg.

8 Tyler Johnson SG 6-4  11.8 ppg. 3.5 apg.

7  Goran Dragic PG 6-10 17.4 ppg. 4.1 rpg.

Coach: Erik Spoelstra (10th season, 471-311)

Injury report:  Dion Waiters (sprained left ankle, out).

Head to head

Heat hold a 58-57 series advantage.

Coming games

Thursday: 8 p.m., at Quicken Loans Arena, Sixers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Friday: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Charlotte Hornets vs. Sixers

Sunday: 8 p.m., at BMO Harris Bradley Center, Sixers vs. Milwaukee Bucks.

March 6: 7 p.m., at Spectrum Center, Sixers vs. Charlotte Hornets

March 8: 7:30 p.m., at American Airlines Center, Sixers vs. Heat.