The Philadelphia 76ers (42-27) face the Portland Trail Blazers (32-39) Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET in the NBA’s Orlando bubble. We analyze the 76ers-Trail Blazers NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
76ers vs. Trail Blazers: Key injuries
76ers
- PG Ben Simmons (knee) out
- SG Glenn Robinson III (hip) questionable
Trail Blazers
- C Hassan Whiteside (hip) out
- PF Caleb Swanigan (personal) out
- SF Trevor Ariza (personal) out
- SG Rodney Hood (Achilles) out
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76ers vs. Trail Blazers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 1:50 p.m. ET.
Prediction
76ers 123, Trail Blazers 120
Moneyline (ML)
The 76ers (+125) are without All-Star PG Ben Simmons for the remainder of the season but the next man up thing should play a role in the next few Philadelphia games.
PG Shake Milton doesn’t need to have a better game than PG Damian Lillard, he just needs to play good defense and hit a couple of threes. “Logo Lillard” could light him up today, but I bet Milton and SG Josh Richardson have heard the media noise about Simmons’ injury and its effect on Philadelphia’s title chances.
Lillard caught a bunch of grief for missing two free throws in the final minute of a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in Portland’s last game, which helped incite a public and social media spat between him and SF Paul George. Sunday, “Dame D.O.L.L.A.” will want his game to speak, so expect an inspired effort from the star guard.
Sixers C Joel Embiid is a trash talker himself and doesn’t want to be put on blast because of someone else’s beef. Everyone in the media, including Shaq and Charles Barkley is going to come down on Embiid if he doesn’t step up with Simmons out.
One more thing, 72% of the Vegas money and 87% of the bets placed (at the time of publishing) are on the Trail Blazers (-150). I am not sure what BetMGM’s handle is on 76ers-Trail Blazers but I’d guess it’s pretty similar and does anyone think 72% of people beat sportsbooks?
We’re rolling with the House and taking a motivated 76ERS (+125) to upset the Trail Blazers. New to sports betting? A $50 bet on the 76ers (+125) returns a $62.50 profit Philadelphia beats Portland.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Portland and Lillard have a flair for the dramatic and this game should come down to the wire. Let’s be smart, buy a half-point and take 76ERS +3 (-121) on an alternate spread. The Trail Blazers are 2-5-1 against the spread this season when laying 3-4.5 points.
Over/Under (O/U)
I’ll lean toward OVER 229.5 (-110) because I don’t handicap totals as well. There’s a lot of firepower in this matchup and 76ers-Trail Blazers should put up some points Sunday.
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