After being a late scratch for Game 4 due to a non-coronavirus illness, Heat reserve center Dewayne Dedmon has been listed as available for tonight’s critical Game 5 at home against the Sixers, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link). Backup Miami big man Markieff Morris was dusted off to replace Dedmon in Game 4, a 116-108 Heat loss.
Several players previously listed as questionable with a variety of ailments have all been given the green light for tonight’s contest, Winderman notes. Gabe Vincent, Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin, Max Strus and P.J. Tucker are all expected to suit up. All of those players aside from Martin are part of Miami’s playoff rotation.
The series is currently knotted at 2-2. Miami needs all the help at center that it can get, so the return of Dedmon is a welcome one. After missing Games 1 and 2 due to an orbital fracture and concussion, Sixers All-Star big man Joel Embiid returned with a vengeance, leading the club with outstanding two-way play for consecutive victories in Games 3 and 4.
Dedmon, who is in his second season with Miami, has been used in a reduced role this postseason. The 32-year-old veteran seven-footer out of USC is averaging 3.7 PPG and 2.7 RPG across three his healthy playoff contests in the series.
41 bench points for Heat tonight. And solid team D. And a whipping on Sixers 120-85.
Harden 37 mins, 14 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast.
44 million for this …….
PHI might have won games 3 & 4 but Embiid didn’t return with a vengeance… he was well below average & rather mediocre for his standards, he must do a lot better if PHI is to win, now without Ben they have nothing else than Embiid & if he keeps playing as bad as he has in the last 3 games they are gonna go home very soon!