We've got a Sunday night showdown as the San Antonio Spurs travel to Philly to take on the Philadelphia 76ers on NBA TV. The Sixers have been playing great basketball this season under new head coach Doc Rivers. On the other end, Pop continues to instill life into this underwhelming roster. You always know what you're going to get with both of these teams. A hard-fought battle. With just a four-point spread separating the two, that's exactly what Vegas is predicting. May the best club win. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Spurs-76ers prediction and pick.
Here’s how the sportsbooks are lining up this contest:
NBA Odds: Spurs-76ers Odds
San Antonio Spurs +4 (-110)
Philadelphia 76ers -4 (-110)
Over 223 Points (-111)
Under 223 Points (-109)
Why The Spurs Could Cover The Spread
We've recently learned that LaMarcus Aldridge and the San Antonio Spurs will be parting ways soon. He has left the team, leaving a hole in the frontcourt. Sure, his play has declined in a sense, but he is still an extremely serviceable big in this league and will be a nice addition for any contender. The Spurs can't dwell on this as they are still very much in the playoff race going into the second half of the regular season. They currently sit at 19-15 and have a 19-15 record ATS to date.
Speaking of bigs, the 76ers also have some bad news of late. MVP candidate Joel Embiid suffered a bone bruise in his knee, which will keep him sidelined for at least two weeks. We have yet to see a negative impact since his absence, but one cannot make a case that this team is better without their heart and soul. The Spurs have an opportunity to capitalize on the 76ers hole in the frontcourt.
San Antonio has played extremely well against the East recently. The Spurs are 8-1 ATS in their last nine games against Eastern Conference opponents. They've had recent success on the road as well, going 12-6 ATS in their last 18 away games. Pop seems to like being labeled the underdog as his club is 6-3 SU as the “underdog.” Pretty strange, isn't it? They play so well as a road dog. It all lies on the defensive end for them, putting up top-10 numbers in all categories on the road in 2021.
Why The 76ers Could Cover The Spread
We've seen this line move two points as it opened with the 76ers giving just two points to the visiting Spurs. Pretty odd given that the public consensus is actually siding with San Antonio right now. Must be big money coming in on Philly, which will typically move the line more than the majority. Philly makes sense here because of their consistent play and dominance at home.
Philly has been money at the Wells Fargo Center with a 16-3 record SU. They've outscored their opponents by over seven points at home and shoot at a 50% clip from the field. Doc Rivers club plays high-energy defense at home and consistently turns turnovers into high-percentage looks. If they are able to win the turnover battle today, they should have no problem coming away with a victory against the Spurs on Sunday night.
Ben Simmons is making a return to the court tonight and will certainly be the X-factor. Philly is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games and has their star point guard ready for action. Simmons will be asked to shoulder more of the load without his trusted big man by his side. Averaging almost a triple-double at home this year, Ben Simmons is looking to have his way with an undersized backcourt in San Antonio. Ben Simmons is definitely a triple-double candidate this Sunday, depending on usage in his return.
Final Spurs-76ers Prediction & Pick
The spread has shifted and it's hard to point toward any one reason for that. I like the under here as I'm predicting more of a dog fight between these two clubs. The 76ers top-10 defense at home up against the Spurs' top-10 defense on the road has all of the signs of a low-scoring affair. Joel Embiid's absence leaves roughly thirty points out of this game, which will be hard to replace. The total has dipped since opening. Let's root for a defensive showdown on Sunday night.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION & PICK FOR Spurs-76ers: 107, 111 (Under 223 (-109)
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