The Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors meet for the first game of a back-to-back set on Sunday. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Sixers-Raptors prediction and pick.
The Sixers hold an overall record of 20-10 and are 15-13-2 against the spread. Philadelphia is coming off a win over the Chicago Bulls.
The Raptors stand at 15-15 overall, and they are 14-16 against the spread. In Toronto's most recent game, the surging squad notched a comeback victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Sixers-Raptors odds.
NBA Odds: Sixers-Raptors Odds
Philadelphia 76ers -3 (-114)
Toronto Raptors +3 (-106)
Over 222.5 Points (-110)
Under 222.5 Points (-110)
Why The Raptors Could Cover The Spread
Toronto is in the middle of playing its best stretch of basketball this season.
The Raptors have won three straight, and all three have been impressive in some fashion. After decisively defeating the Bucks twice on their home floor, Toronto showed heart and composure to fight back from a fourth-quarter deficit to get to .500.
Now, the Raptors get to match up with a Sixers team that has been scuffling a bit after a hot start.
Part of the Raptors' recent success is linked to their shooting from beyond the 3-point line. After starting slowly, Toronto now ranks third in the league in 3-pointers made per game and seventh in 3-point percentage.
This stat is a good sign for Raptors bettors against the Sixers. Philadelphia has done a good job of limiting opponents inside the arc, but there's some vulnerability outside the arc. Philly is middle-tier in both opponent 3-point percentage (13th) and 3-point makes conceded (15th).
A fast, free-flowing game would be good for Toronto. Not only will they get more 3-point looks, but they have the opportunity to turn the Sixers over and force mistakes.
Toronto is second in the league in steals, largely because of OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet's constant harassment of the perimeter.
The Sixers are prone to turnovers, averaging a whopping 15.0 giveaways a game, third-most in the NBA.
Look for the Raptors to continue to swarm on the defensive end to try to negate the Sixers' size advantage.
Why The Sixers Could Cover The Spread
The biggest advantage the Sixers have in this game is literally their biggest player: Joel Embiid.
Embiid is on an absolute tear and is making a serious run at MVP this season. Over the Sixers' last five matchups, he put up 37.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting nearly 55% from the field.
While no team has contained Embiid this season, he is a nightmare of a matchup for Toronto.
The Raptors' two centers are Aron Baynes and Chris Boucher, and they're at a serious disadvantage against the superstar big man. It wouldn't come as a surprise to see another ridiculous line from the Sixers center just days after he dropped a career-high 50 against the Bulls.
The Sixers are also helped out by the injury report on Sunday. Kyle Lowry is currently listed as doubtful to play with an ankle injury that has kept him out of recent games.
Lowry is the Raptors' third-leading scorer and a great 3-point shooter. He shoots the most 3-pointers per game for the Raptors (7.1 per game) and connects on just under 39% of them. Without him to marshall the offense, Toronto could struggle to get buckets consistently. It was certainly a struggle against Minnesota, but the defense played well enough to get the victory.
With Ben Simmons probable to play and Matisse Thybulle locked in on the defensive end, it'll be difficult for a limited Raptors backcourt to get on a roll. Fred VanVleet is good and Pascal Siakam is a threat, but that Sixers defense is real tough.
Expect Philly to work the ball through Embiid on the offensive end and force the Raptors' perimeter players into taking tough shots all night.
Final Sixers-Raptors Prediction & Pick
With Simmons probable and Embiid playing the best basketball of his career, I like the odds of the Sixers covering a small spread on Sunday. Kyle Lowry missing will be a huge blow to the Raptors on both ends of the court, and I predict they don't make enough 3-point shots to keep them in this game. Even if Lowry does tough this one out and is declared active, the Sixers have been a superior team for nearly the entire season. I'll back a motivated and healthy Sixers squad over a Toronto team likely missing one of its best players. Philly by a healthy margin.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: PHI 110, TOR 101 (PHI -3)
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