T.M. Selection: Philadelphia 76ers.

I like the Philadelphia 76ers to cover the spread against the Miami Heat in this game on Thursday. The Heat lead this series 3-2 but the home team has won every game of the series so far, and I think this game is going to be no different than the others. None of these games have really been close with the home team blowing out the road team in every game and I think that will continue here with a 76ers win on their home court, extending this series to 7 games. Joel Embiid got banged up even more in their previous game but he will be playing here and I expect him to make the same impact he has been making for his team in their home games here. Kyle Lowry missed the previous game and he will be missing this game too which I think will help the 76ers control the pace of the game a bit better. In 3/5 of these games in this series, the road team hasn't even put up 100+ points and it seems that whoever the home team is at the time, tends to play better defense on their home court. The 76ers are facing elimination in this game knowing they still need to take a road game in the series if they want to win it but their focus will be on winning this home game and I expect players like Embiid and Harden to step up here and give their team the best chance to win this game and extend the series. The Heat have looked great on defense in their home games and that is really how they have been winning their games in this series, with a good defensive effort. Jimmy Butler hasn't even been doing a lot on offense in their home games and he isn't getting a lot of contribution from his teammates either. I think this is going to be another game where the defensive effort dominates and I expect the 76ers to be much better on their home court and shut the Heat down here. I like the 76ers to cover the spread here.

T.M. Prediction: 117-98 76ers.