Miami @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 9, 2019 ) Philadelphia 99, Miami 122

The surprising Miami Heat look to record their sixth straight victory when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. Miami is just a half-game behind the Milwaukee Bucks for best record in the Eastern Conference after posting a 116-108 road win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

Small forward Jimmy Butler scored 27 points against his former team in the Bulls and returns to Philadelphia after spending most of last season with the 76ers and he isn't concerned about how the fans will react. "To tell you the truth, I don't care. I was there and gave my all for them," Butler told reporters. "But I'm here so however they want to welcome me back. We're there to do a job anyway, trying to get a W." Philadelphia is 6-0 at home after producing a 115-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. Forward Tobias Harris scored 26 points and has topped 20 in three of the past four games.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Miami), NBCS Philadelphia

ABOUT THE HEAT (11-3): Butler wasn't entirely thrilled about Friday's victory, particularly that a 67-43 halftime lead was trimmed to single digits before Miami closed it out. "A win is a win. I'm not going to downplay that none, but I think the way we have been winning is not the way we would like to win," Butler said. "We played great basketball in the first half. I think we are all proud of that, but then we just have these mental lapses night after night. It just can't happen if we want to be as good as we say we want to be." Shooting guard Kendrick Nunn scored 21 points against the Bulls for his fourth 20-point outing in the past five games.

ABOUT THE 76ERS (10-5): Harris was 10-of-16 shooting in the win over the Spurs but coach Brett Brown was just as impressed with his defensive efforts. "I think he's moving completely in the right direction," Brown told reporters. "We talk lots about two things, just that maniacal competitive effort, as a team, not Tobias, and he always brings it. He's an incredibly prideful defensive player." Shooting guard Josh Richardson (hip flexor) could sit out his third straight contest and miss the chance to play his former teammates.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Heat won the most recent meeting after losing the previous five.

2. Miami SF Justise Winslow (concussion) will miss his eighth straight game.

3. Philadelphia SG Furkan Korkmaz scored 17 points against the Spurs for his eighth double-digit output of the season.

PREDICTION: 76ers 109, Heat 105