Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat will be taking on Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, and the winner will earn the right to face the New York Knicks in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. With the Play-In Tournament getting started in the Eastern Conference, we have searched through the NBA odds to find you the best NBA player props for this matchup.
TOBIAS HARRIS OVER ME!
I mean, who isn't excited for Jimmy Butler to turn on playoff mode and make things personal once again with the Philadelphia 76ers, who decided to pay Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons over Butler?
Find out which NBA Picks I'm rolling with for this Play-In Tournament matchup between the Heat vs. 76ers on Wednesday, April 17th.
Best Heat vs 76ers player props today
- Kyle Lowry Over 3.5 assists (+102 at FanDuel)
- Nikola Jovic Over 6.5 points (-124 at FanDuel)
- Nicolas Batum Over 1.5 assists (-125 at bet365)
Picks made on April 17 at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Read full analysis of each pick.
Best NBA bonuses
All Users
Instant payout for NBA moneylines
If your team goes up by 20! Claim Now
New Users
Get a no-sweat first bet
Up to $1,500! Claim Now
Eligible USA locations only. Also, see our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2024.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Heat vs 76ers player props for April 17
Prop bet #1: High basketball IQ
It's a revenge spot for Kyle Lowry on Wednesday as the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament, and while I don't typically buy into these spots, I think this one has some legs, and let me explain why.
Lowry is showing a slight edge on his assists prop of 3.5 (+102) with a projection of 23 minutes played. This is a normal projection for Lowry; even if he were playing the Heat in December in the regular season, I don't think I would take an exception with this minute projection. The thing is, this isn't any regular-season game we are talking about here. This is a game to make the playoffs and, most importantly, face the New York Knicks instead of the Boston Celtics. Let's not overlook the difference between being the 7th seed and the 8th seed here for the 76ers and the Heat.
Lowry and the 76ers just played against the Heat on April 4th, and Lowry played 34 minutes, granted Tobias Harris was out. I just feel like in a meaningful game, Nick Nurse will look to lean on his veteran guard whom he obviously has a strong relationship with, high Basketball IQ, and knows the Heat's sets inside and out. The opponent and magnitude of the game make me feel like Lowry will see elevated minutes.
Remember, I still like this even if he plays 23 minutes, but if the minutes are elevated, so will the potential assists because Lowry will be the beneficiary of Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid being doubled. Lowry will find himself as the first catch, and he is someone who will make an extra pass to an open shooter, generating potential assists for himself off the double teams of Embiid and Maxey.
Lowry is projected to have 4.4 assists on Wednesday against the 76ers, which allows us to price the Over 3.5 assists at -162, but it is available at FanDuel at +102.
Kyle Lowry prop: Over 3.5 assists (+102 at FanDuel)
Prop bet #2: Taking advantage of the opportunity
Nikola Jovic might not be a household name for many, but he has been in the starting lineup for the Heat for 20+ games now down the stretch. He brings a different dynamic to their starting lineup, and it's something I think the Heat will need on Wednesday against the 76ers, which leads me to believe his usual allotment of minutes should be pretty secure.
Jovic is capable of running the floor, catching the pitch-ahead pass, and attacking the rim in transition. This is an important skill set against the 76ers because you want to try to get as many easy buckets as possible and beat Embiid down the floor. The less the Heat have to face Embiid in the half-court, who is a great rim protector, the better off their offense will be, and I believe Jovic will be someone they use on the pitch ahead to push the pace. Jovic is also capable of grabbing a defensive rebound and pushing pace himself on a coast-to-coast layup.
I'm going after his points prop, but it's also Jovic's defense and positional size that should keep his minutes secure for us on Wednesday. Jovic is a 6'10" plus defender who can move his feet. That is someone you want on the floor because he will be able to be disruptive on the double team on Embiid because of his wingspan and size.
We're not asking for a lot here from Jovic; his points total is only at 6.5. A lot of his shots will come from beyond the arc, and you're hoping he makes them, but I do think it's the transition buckets that will help push us Over this total and be less dependent on the jump shot in the half-court.
Jovic is projected to score 8.6 points on Wednesday against the 76ers, which allows us to price the Over 6.5 points at -191, but it is available at FanDuel at -124.
Nikola Jovic prop: Over 6.5 points (-124 at FanDuel)
Prop bet #3: Beneficiary of the matchup
This is kind of a random one here, but it plays into the Lowry angle as well. When you consider the opponent and magnitude of the game, I give an edge to the veterans and players with a high Basketball IQ whom Nurse can trust against a very tactical Heat coaching staff.
Plus, Lowry and Nicolas Batum are two of the better defenders on the 76ers, and we saw both of them guard Jimmy Butler in their last meeting on April 4th, so not only do they understand their role on offense, but their minutes feel secure because of their defensive presence and the matchups against the Heat.
When the 76ers played the Heat on April 4th, Batum played 32 minutes and had 7 assists. Once again, it's worth noting there was no Harris in this game for the 76ers, but we also aren't looking for 7 assists here from Batum; his total is only trading at 1.5 (-125).
Like Lowry, Batum will be the beneficiary of double teams on Maxey and Embiid, and he will be able to make an extra pass on a rotating defense for a potential assist. We've also seen the 76ers use Batum as the screener in the pick-and-roll with Maxey when Embiid is off the floor, and if the Heat blitz Maxey, the potential assists could begin to fall in the lap of Batum.
Harris should be in the starting lineup and Batum should be coming off the bench, and that's fine; we still have an edge on the Over 1.5 assists (-125) with all of this happening. Batum is projected to have 2.1 assists on Wednesday, which allows us to price the Over 1.5 assists at -155, but it is available at bet365 at -125.
Nicolas Batum prop: Over 1.5 assists (-125 at bet365)
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
🏆North Carolina: Sports betting is here!
North Carolina sports betting has officially launched — and available sportsbooks are offering welcome bonuses and sign-up offers exclusively for residents in the Tar Heel State!
See what offers are available from the best North Carolina sports betting apps with our list of best North Carolina sportsbook promos!
21+ and present in NC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Today’s NBA games
Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the 
to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
