Does ‘Jimmy Bucket’ go ahead again?

Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers have Game 5 of the series in front of them. The home side won the first two games in front of their own fans, but then suffered two losses at Philly.

Miami Heat – statistics & current form

The franchise from the Sunshine State lost 108-116 last time out, but the comparatively narrow margin was largely the result of Jimmy Butler’s strong performance. The small forward delivered a whopping 40 points and has thus improved from game to game in the series. Head Coach Erik Spoelstra will know, however, that “Jimmy Bucket” alone is not enough.

The 32-year-old also recorded a whopping 33 points for the three-time champions in the previous game, but that just didn’t change the defeat.

Philadelphia 76ers – Statistics & current form

The Sixers have new hope in the series: Since the return of Joel Embiid, Head Coach Doc Rivers’ squad has always won and unlike their opponents, the visitors still have a second top player on hand in James Harden. While “The Beard” has mostly disappointed in the 2022 NBA Playoffs to date, his latest performance suggests an uptick.

The 2018 MVP posted his clear best output in the current postseason with 31 points. Above all, his trademark three-pointer, his step-back three-pointer, was finally successful to watch again. Six of his ten attempts from downtown went through the trap. In the three previous games against Miami, on the other hand, he had always been below 30 percent.

Miami Heat – Philadelphia 76ers Tip

For the duel between Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5, the tip aims for more than 25.5 points by Jimmy Butler. The veteran has been convincing on the home side so far and only three players have averaged more points per game in the postseason.

Against the Sixers, he has also steadily improved. In the now often decisive fifth game of a previously even series, he will once again take on special responsibility as the leader on the side of the hosts.

In addition, Kyle Lowry will probably have to miss the game again due to injury, which means that the home side will be without an offensively strong point guard and Butler will be even more challenged in the forward play than he already is.