The Philadelphia 76ers are ahead one game in their series against the Washington Wizards after taking Game 1 by seven points. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Wizards-76ers prediction and pick for Game 2.
The eighth-seeded Wizards had built some momentum to end the season and had a great performance against the Indiana Pacers in the second play-in game. They could not, however, continue their momentum to pull off what would have been a very impressive and shocking win against the 76ers in Game 1. Philadelphia has dominated the Wizards all season long and showed it once against during Game 1 behind 30-plus-point performances from Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the Wizards-76ers odds.
NBA Odds: Wizards-76ers Odds
Washington Wizards +8 (-110)
Philadelphia 76ers -8 (-110)
Over 230.5 Points (-110)
Under 230.5 Points(-110)
Why The Wizards Could Cover The Spread
The Wizards only ranked 17th in offensive rating during the regular season, but they were an elite offensive unit to finish the season off and looked like it in Game 1 with a terrific performance against the 76ers' second-ranked defense. Wizards head coach Scott Brooks had six players score in double digits, with Bradley Beal's 33 points leading the way.
An area of concern for the Wizards continues to be on the defensive end of the floor, especially in the paint against an MVP candidate in Embiid. In addition, the X-factor for the Wizards will be the offensive performance from Russell Westbrook, who only had 16 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the field. The Wizards will need much more from Westbrook offensively in Game 2 if they want a shot.
Why The 76ers Could Cover The Spread
The 76ers are the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and they dominated when Embiid was on the court. The MVP candidate was in some early foul trouble, which helped keep the Wizards in the game, but the road team had little hope slowing him down when he was on the floor.
In addition to Embiid's dominant performance, Harris had himself a career playoff night, shooting 15-of-29 from the field for a total of 37 points. If Philly is getting these types of performances from Embiid's supporting cast it's a wrap.
Also, while the 76ers' normally elite defense wasn't totally up to snuff against a red-hot Wizards group, they made enough plays when needed to secure the win in the fourth quarter. Philly's defensive prowess showed up during a crucial point in the game, which helped them create separation to get the win.
Doc Rivers will need to hammer down the defensive coverage of Beal and Westbrook for Game 2. Beal was able to get loose a bit, but the 76ers have the personnel to make his life difficult.
Final Wizards-76ers Prediction & Pick
The dynamic duo of Westbrook and Beal is very difficult to stop on any given night, but the 76ers have the ability to do so thanks to their elite defense. There's little expectation that the Wizards can get enough stops to win. Philly will continue to score at will against a porous Washington defense and cover the spread in a high-scoring affair.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION & PICK FOR WIZARDS-76ERS: PHI 134, WAS 122, (PHI -8)
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