2018 NBA Playoffs: First-round schedule, initial thoughts on each series

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8 of 9

Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Miami Heat (6)

Season Series: 2-2

Game 1: Sat. April 14 – Miami at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Mon. April 16 – Miami at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Thu. April 19 – Philadelphia at Miami, p.m., TNT
Game 4: Sat. April 21 – Philadelphia at Miami, 2:30 p.m., TNT
*Game 5: Tue. April 24 – Miami at Philadelphia, TBD
*Game 6: Thu April 26 – Philadelphia at Miami, TBD
*Game 7: Sat. April 28 – Miami at Philadelphia, TNT

All the tanking and losing is over for the Philadelphia 76ers. After an impressive – and to some extent surprising – regular season run, the Sixers are set up to do some actually winning. When it matters.

A healthy Sixers team is going to crash the National market against the Miami Heat in the first round. And by the way, if their regular season meetings were any indication, this is going to be a great matchup. It’s my favorite of all the Eastern Conference pairings.

Joel Embiid vs. Hassan Whiteside – both on and off the court – is going to be must-see TV. I honestly don’t know who will come out on top.