Miami Heat

After Golden State seemed to hit its step, beating the Boston Celtics at home in a rematch of the NBA Finals, the Warriors hit the road and were defeated in back-to-back games, first by the Bucks & then by the Indiana Pacers. Worst of all, MVP candidate Stephen Curry injured his shoulder at Indiana, and his status is now listed daily while the team prepares to give him an MRI. Curry scored 27 of his 38 pts in the first half on Wednesday night, then guarded Jalen Smith off the field late in the third quarter. Curry grabbed him by the shoulders and disappeared into the locker room, never to return. Because of the loss, the GSW are just 2-12 on the road this season.

Philadelphia has now won three games in a row as the team got healthier and got the clutch ball back. During that span, Embiid averaged 40.7 points on 66 percent shooting from the field and grabbed more than ten rebounds per game. Embiid scored 31 pts, & James Harden had 21 points & 15 assists in the team’s 123-103 win over Sacramento on Tuesday night. Tobias Harris had 21 points and nine assists to give the 76ers a 3-0 lead in their seven-game home stretch.

Philadelphia should be able to cover more ground on the perimeter and keep GSW from knocking down many long-range shots. Without a 3-point weapon, the GSW doesn’t have enough weapons in the paint to bother the Sixers. Philadelphia’s offense is on fire now, and the Warriors’ defense seems unlikely to slow them down. The Warriors are just 2-12 on the road this season, and it’s doubtful they’ll get a Game 3 at the position.