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The Philadelphia 76ers will play the Washington Wizards in an Eastern Conference matchup on Sunday. It's time continue our NBA odds series with a 76ers-Wizards prediction and pick.
The 76ers and Wizards play on Sunday as the NBA continues to try to get back to some sense of normal. Several players across the league are tied up in the NBA's health & safety protocols related to Covid. Philadelphia still has five players in the protocols, while two of them, Tyrese Maxey and Georges Niang, are questionable to return for Sunday's game vs. Washington. The Wizards have two players in the protocols, but one of them happens to be star guard Bradley Beal. Beal has been reported as unvaccinated in the past and has not played in some road arenas this season as a result. It remains to be seen how long he will be out. The 76ers come into this one as road favorites despite being a bit shorthanded.
Here is how FanDuel has set the 76ers-Wizards odds for this Sunday NBA matchup.
NBA Odds: 76ers-Wizards Odds
Philadelphia 76ers -3.5 (-110)
Washington Wizards +3.5 (-110)
Over 208 (-110)
Under 208 (-110)
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Why The 76ers Could Cover The Spread
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The 76ers still have Seth Curry, Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid, so despite their absences they come into this spot with the clear better starting five. They are a bit shallow on depth if Maxey and Niang remain out, but the return of either would be a solid boost for the Sixers' second unit and likely not impact the line much. Embiid will be a big matchup problem for the Wizards inside. Defensively, the 76ers should benefit from not having to game plan for Bradley Beal.
The 76ers (16-16) sit as the No. 8 seed in the East coming into play, going 5-5 in their last ten games. They are 10-8 on the road this season outright, and 3-4 vs. the spread as a road favorite. The 76ers could be in a good spot for a win over the Wizards without Beal, but they just lost to the Atlanta Hawks who were without Trae Young and Clint Capela. The 76ers have covered just once in their last five games and twice in their last nine.
Why The Wizards Could Cover The Spread
The Wizards are a bit shorthanded in the backcourt in this one without Beal and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Luckily for them, the 76ers don't have a ton of perimeter weapons. Matching up with Joel Embiid inside however will obviously present a tough challenge for Washington and is likely the key to this game. If the Wizards can keep Embiid from torching them, they should be able to hang around in this one if guys like Spencer Dinwiddie, Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell can pick up the scoring a little bit.
Washington (17-15) sits as the No. 6 seed in the East but is struggling of late as they have lost seven of their last ten. However, after losing seven of eight, the Wizards are now looking for their third straight win. As home underdogs this season, Washington is 4-1 vs. the spread. The Wizards could be in a sneaky position here as underdogs at home vs. a struggling Philadelphia team.
Final 76ers-Wizards Prediction and Pick
Take the Wizards and the points in this one. The 76ers have not been very good of late, and continue to be shorthanded due to health and safety protocols.
Final 76ers-Wizards Prediction & Pick: Wizards +3.5 (-110)
