NBA Feature Presentation: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers

THE STORY:  The Heat knocked off the seventh-seeded 76ers in the first round of last year’s playoffs en route to a berth in the NBA Finals. The Sixers will be seeking a fifth straight win overall and are off to a 16-6 start. Only four of their wins have come against teams with a record currently above .500. “I don’t think we’ve gotten the respect yet from the outside,” said Sixers guard Andre Iguodala. “We’re starting to get there.” Philadelphia’s next five opponents all have records above .500. The 76ers will square off against the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers after Friday’s tilt with Miami.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, SunSports (Miami), Comcast (Philadelphia)

ABOUT THE HEAT (16-6): Miami has won five of its last six games and continues to ride the hot hand of LeBron James. The star forward is the only player in the league averaging at least 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists per game this season. He scored a season-high 40 points in Wednesday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat recorded their best record for the month of January in franchise history, going 12-5.

ABOUT THE 76ERS (16-6): The Sixers wrap up a seven-game homestand on Friday in the first part of a back-to-back, as they play in Atlanta on Saturday. Philadelphia’s 16-6 start is its best since going 17-5 in 2000-01. Of the Sixers’ 16 wins, 14 have been by double-digits, including eight by 20 or more points. A major reason for their impressive start has been their tenacious defense. Philly has held the opposition below 90 points in each of the past four games and 15 times overall this season.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. Dwyane Wade is averaging 30.3 points in his last six regular-season games versus Philadelphia.

2. A Heat player hasn’t fouled out in 74 straight games, the longest streak during the shot-clock era.

3. The Sixers are one of three teams (Chicago and Indiana are the others) yet to lose consecutive games this season

PREDICTION: Heat 94, 76ers 91.

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