The Miami Heat face the Philadelphia 76ers in an Eastern Conference play-in game on Wednesday, April 17. The winner of this game earns the No. 7 seed, and the loser plays for the No. 8 seed. The 76ers are 5.5-point favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook, and the total is set at 207.5. Here is our best DFS lineup strategy for Wednesday’s play-in.
Captain’s Picks
Tyrese Maxey ($14,700) – Maxey has been on fire lately, and if you’re going to pay extra for any one player, it should be the point guard. He has scored 52, 28, and 26 points in his last three starts, and the Sixers will be looking to feed him the ball as they aim to protect Joel Embiid for what they hope is a long playoff road. Maxey has also had multiple double-digit assist games this month.
Jimmy Butler ($15,300) – Butler and playoff dominance have become synonymous over the past few seasons, and we get to see him in the postseason yet again this year. He has been here before, and will be firing on all cylinders in this matchup as he looks to lift his team to a favorable seed. Even though Butler was quiet during the regular season, this is the environment where he thrives. He should have a strong game.
FLEX Plays
Tyler Herro ($8,800) – Herro will carry a greater offensive load with Terry Rozier sidelined with a neck injury. The guard leads the team in scoring this season alongside Butler, and will be asked to contribute in every aspect of the game. Herro has the third-most rebounds and assists on the team, so he’s a solid all-around player who should have a decent role tonight.
Tobias Harris ($7,600) – Harris has been a consistent piece of the Sixers’ offense this season while they awaited Embiid’s return and as head coach Nick Nurse looks to manage the big man’s workload, the 76ers will lean more on their other reliable scorers — including Harris. The forward works best in this role as the third offensive option, while also contributing on the glass.
Fades
Bam Adebayo ($9,600) – Adebayo will have trouble getting around Embiid down low. Earlier this month, when the Heat faced the Sixers, Philly held Adebayo to 14 points — his third lowest output of the month. While he’ll get big minutes, this price point might be too high for someone with an unfavorable matchup.
Kelly Oubre Jr. ($7,200) – Oubre struggled to find his footing in his most recent start against the Nets, scoring just eight points and grabbing five assists. Oubre has uncharacteristically low-scoring games once in a while that make him a DFS risk, especially at this price.
The Outcome
The 76ers have Embiid back in the lineup, and the big man has looked like his usual self. Him being back opens up others like Maxey and Harris to play in their usual roles, and that should trouble Miami. The Heat made a run last year in the playoffs but even a player of Butler’s caliber is unlikely to make that type of mark every postseason. The Sixers clinch the No. 7 seed with a win at home tonight.
Final score: 76ers 120, Heat 113