Looks like 8 again for Heat, with Leonard doubtful; 76ers likely to be bolstered by Tobias Harris, others

The manpower challenge figures to only grow for the Miami Heat in Thursday’s 7 p.m. rematch against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center.

For the Heat, pandemic protocols still will leave them without Bam Adebayo, Avery Bradley, Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic, Maurice Harkless, Udonis Haslem, KZ Okpala and Kendrick Nunn, with all eight back in South Florida.

In addition, center Meyers Leonard, who was injured in Saturday’s victory over the Washington Wizards at the start of this trip, is listed as doubtful with his strained left shoulder.

Kelly Olynyk (groin) is off the Heat’s injury report, with Gabe Vincent listed as probable with his sore right knee. Both played in Tuesday’s 137-134 overtime loss.

It should again leave the Heat with eight players, the minimum allowed by the NBA: Olynyk, Vincent, Precious Achiuwa, Tyler Herro, Andre Iguodala, Duncan Robinson, Chris Silva and Max Strus.

The 76ers, by contrast, are listing as probable rotation players Tobias Harris, Shake Milton and Matisse Thybulle, who all missed Tuesday’s game due to protocols.

Seth Curry (protocols) and Furkan Korkmaz (abductor) remain out for Philadelphia.

Joel Embiid (back tightness) and Ben Simmons (knee swelling) are both listed as probable after playing Tuesday night.

Late miss

Robinson said it was his decision to intentionally miss a free throw with 5.4 seconds left in overtime Tuesday and the Heat down two.

The shot failed to touch the rim, giving the 76ers possession with 3.6 seconds left, when the Heat were out of timeouts.

“I was trying to ‘quick’ it,” Robinson explained. “Usually I’m pretty good at it. I’ve practiced it before. Just throw it right off the front rim, have it come right back to me. I just rushed it, like a tiny bit. It sucks.

“I was kind of caught in between if I wanted to make it or not and I decided in my mind to miss, just because I thought I could make the play and do that, and obviously I didn’t execute it.”

Contrasting view

While Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was unable to challenge what appeared to be both a palming violation and travel by Embiid late in regulation Tuesday, he did challenge the foul on Olynyk on that play, which was upheld upon video review by the referees on site.

But when it came to Wednesday’s NBA officiating report, there was no mention of a missed call against Embiid on that play, only, “Replay review of the foul pursuant to a coach’s challenge is deemed unsuccessful. Olynyk (MIA) is not in a legal guarding position and is moving laterally into Embiid’s (PHI) path.”

The only officiating error cited by the NBA in the final two minutes of regulation or overtime was a rebounding foul that the league said should have been called on Achiuwa in the final minute of overtime.