The highly anticipated game will take place on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in South Philadelphia.

The Sixers, who recently clinched their eighth consecutive victory, narrowly missed out on securing the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. Nevertheless, they remain optimistic about their postseason prospects and are expecting the return of their star player, Joel Embiid, for the playoffs. Embiid, a two-time NBA scoring champion, is anticipated to be back in the lineup after resting his surgically repaired left knee as a precautionary measure in their recent game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Embiid's presence on the court has been instrumental to the team's success this season. Despite his injury setbacks, he finished the regular season with impressive statistics, averaging 34.7 points and 11 rebounds in just 39 games. Notably, he achieved the unusual feat of scoring more points than minutes played, with 1,353 points in 1,309 minutes. The 76ers' record was also telling of Embiid's impact, as they went 31-8 with him on the court compared to 16-27 without him.

The winner of the Heat-76ers matchup will earn the coveted No. 7 seed and face off against the No. 2 seed, the New York Knicks, in Round 1 of the playoffs. The stakes are high, as a victory would provide the opportunity for Philadelphia to continue their postseason journey. However, the loser of the game will still have a chance to secure the No. 8 seed by hosting either the Atlanta Hawks or the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

Fans and basketball enthusiasts alike are eagerly awaiting this thrilling contest between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers. As the 76ers gear up for their playoff run, their hopes lie in the hands of a healthy Joel Embiid, who will be expected to lead the team's charge towards an Eastern Conference victory.