The No. 4 seed Philadelphia 76ers (2-0) head north of the border Wednesday to play the No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors (0-2) at Scotiabank Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (NBA TV). Below, we look at the 76ers vs. Raptors odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Philly crushed Toronto in Game 2 Monday 112-97 behind Sixers big Joel Embiid‘s game-highs in points (31 on 56.3% shooting and 12-of-14 from the foul line) and rebounds (11).
The Sixers are outperforming the Raptors in three of the “four factors” for the series and Philly’s FT/FGA rate is more than double Toronto’s. In fact, Embiid and James Harden have attempted more free throws than the Raptors’ entire team.
76ers at Raptors odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:01 p.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): 76ers -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Raptors +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Against the spread: 76ers -1.5 (-120) | Raptors +1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under: 216.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
76ers at Raptors key injuries
76ers
- SF Matisse Thybulle (ineligible to play) out
Raptors
- SF Scottie Barnes (ankle) doubtful
- SG Gary Trent Jr. (illness) probable
[tipico]
76ers at Raptors picks and predictions
Prediction
Raptors 113, Sixers 109
Money line
LEAN RAPTORS (+105) despite them getting stomped in the first two games of this series. So much of Philly’s offense relies on getting to the charity stripe and the Raptors could get some home-cooking from the officials with the series back in Toronto.
The Raptors can live with Embiid destroying them in the paint, but most of the Sixers’ role players shot lights out from behind the arc in Philly. Typically, role players shoot worse on the road and Toronto’s team defense should be at its most tenacious with the season on the brink.
However, I’d prefer to get whatever points I can get with the Raptors since the first two games of this series were lopsided in Philly’s favor.
Also, I’d prefer sprinkling on Toronto’s adjusted series price at (+900) instead of betting the ML since Sixers coach Doc Rivers has been in several playoff series leads in recent seasons.
LEAN RAPTORS (+105).
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Against the spread
LEAN to the RAPTORS +1.5 (-105) because Toronto still has edges over the 76ers -1.5 (-120) it can exploit.
If Philly’s role players cool off from the field then the Raptors turn live rebounds into fast break opportunities and the Sixers struggle in transition defense.
On top of that, Toronto is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the NBA and that should surface because Game 3 will be an all-in effort from the Raptors.
LEAN to the RAPTORS +1.5 (-105) only because the Over is my favorite play in this game.
Over/Under
BET the OVER 216.5 (-110) since Game 2 was trending over before it died out in the second half because the Sixers were in firm control and took their foot off the gas.
Toronto has no answer for Embiid and his ability to draw fouls. But the Raptors should get to the foul line more at home in Game 3 and the Raptors score more PPG at home.
Philly is 17-7-1 O/U as road favorites with a plus-3.7 total margin, Toronto is 24-17 O/U at home and the total has been steamed up from the 214.5-point opener, per Pregame.com.
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