Heat Vs 76ers — heat vs 76ers: Game preview, injury report and how to watch
The Philadelphia 76ers (32-26) meet the Miami Heat (31-28) on February 26, 2026 in a matchup that could affect playoff seeding. The heat vs 76ers matchup carries a modest point-spread edge for Philadelphia and several roster and tactical storylines to follow.
Heat Vs 76ers: Records and odds
Philadelphia enters at 32-26 and Miami at 31-28. Philadelphia is a modest favorite by 2. 5 points, and the game's point total is set at 239. 5. Betting notes published with the matchup include an ATS pick of Heat (+2. 5), an O/U pick of Under (239. 5) and a score prediction of 76ers 118 - Heat 116. The page notes it may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners; if you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Injury and availability updates
Joel Embiid appears available for this meeting. In the teams' last matchup Embiid scored 27 points in 26 minutes, moving well and looking good in 26 minutes of play. For Miami, Tyler Herro was sidelined for much of the year but is now back in the fold; his availability this season was listed as a significant factor in Miami's uneven year.
Previous meeting and matchup notes
Miami won the earlier season meeting by 10 points. Kel'el Ware was a major factor in that win with 26 points and 16 rebounds, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 21 points as Miami dominated the glass. Limiting second-chance opportunities will be a key for Philadelphia, as the Heat generated far too many second chances in the first meeting.
Team context and roster notes
At 31-28, Miami finds itself hovering around the middle of the Eastern Conference and looking once again like a play-in team. Injuries have played a significant role in Miami's uneven season. The pairing of Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware has lacked consistency, with the pairing sometimes clicking and other nights seeing Ware barely on the floor. Miami stood pat at the trade deadline while other teams made roster moves. The Heat's newest addition, Norman Powell, has put together an excellent season and earned an All-Star nod. With Herro back, the Heat have two dynamic scorers who can space the floor and carry the offense when needed. Earlier in the season Miami tried to implement a drive-and-kick offense that was more unorthodox than the standard pick-and-roll systems; that approach led to early success and a top-five offense, but pushback from a few players has produced a shift back to a more conventional approach.
Key players to watch
Philadelphia is coming off back-to-back wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Indiana Pacers and will return home for one game against Miami before heading back out on the road to face the Boston Cetlics. The Sixers are seeking a third straight win after a post-trade deadline slide that had them drifting toward play-in territory. Tyrese Maxey has been the catalyst in both recent wins, finishing a near triple-double with 32 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and three stocks; if the Pacers game had been more competitive, he likely would have reached the triple-double milestone. Maxey has shown deep threes and strong finishes at the rim. His backcourt mate VJ Edgecombe has been dominant from beyond the arc in the Timberwolves game and effective scoring inside the arc against the Pacers. Quentin Grimes has turned in another strong performance, scoring in double figures in back-to-back games and looking more explosive; Grimes' bench scoring will be particularly important in this matchup.
How to watch and broadcasts
The matchup airs on FDSSUN and NBCS-PH. Tip time and local-start details are included with the February 26, 2026 scheduling information for the matchup.
This game carries playoff-seeding implications for both clubs and blends tactical adjustments, recent form and personnel availability into a tightly forecast contest. The heat vs 76ers matchup will be decided on the floor where second-chance control, Miami's scoring depth and Philadelphia's recent momentum converge.
