The reeling and undermanned Rockets are finishing up a three-game road trip versus a Philadelphia squad with the Eastern Conference’s best record. and there aren’t many reinforcements — if any — on the way.
Houston could be without as many of four of its top six rotation players due to injury, with Christian Wood (right ankle sprain), Victor Oladipo (right foot strain), Eric Gordon (right groin strain), and PJ Tucker (left thigh contusion) headlining Wednesday’s pregame injury report. Wood is out, Oladipo and Gordon are doubtful, and Tucker is questionable.
For the Rockets (11-16), who have lost six straight games while dealing with widespread injury absences, defeating the 76ers (18-10) on the road certainly appears to be a tall order. However, it could become slightly more realistic if the Sixers are also short-handed in Wednesday’s game.
Perennial All-Star center Joel Embiid, who is putting up MVP-caliber numbers of nearly 30 points and 11 rebounds per game, sat out Monday in Utah with back tightness — but he’s listed as probable. Meanwhile, reserve guard Shake Milton remains out with a left ankle sprain.
Assuming Embiid plays, Stephen Silas and the Rockets may need to lean more on the size and bulk of veteran center DeMarcus Cousins to provide some form of physical resistance in the low post.
It will also be a reunion of sorts between the Rockets and longtime GM Daryl Morey, who is now the president of basketball operations in Philadelphia. This will be the first time that Morey’s new team has faced the Rockets since his abrupt departure from Houston last October.
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The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: 76ers -11.5 (-105), Rockets +11.5 (-115)
- Moneyline: 76ers -650/Rockets +450
- Over-under: 225.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
- Player O/U Scoring Props: John Wall 25.5 (-105 O, -120 U), Jae’Sean Tate 12.5 (-105 O, -125 U); Joel Embiid 29.5 (-110 O, -115 U), Tobias Harris 20.5 (-110 O, -115 U), Ben Simmons 15.5 (-125 O, +100 U), Seth Curry 12.5 (-115 O, -110 U), Danny Green 8.5 (-130 O, +100 U)
Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.
Wednesday’s starters for the 76ers should be Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Danny Green, Tobias Harris, and Joel Embiid. Meanwhile, Stephen Silas will counter with John Wall, David Nwaba, Jae’Sean Tate, DeMarcus Cousins, and PJ Tucker, if he’s deemed available. If Tucker (questionable) is not able to play, Danuel House Jr. would start in his place.
Advice and prediction
While the Sixers still have the East’s top record, they are on a three-game losing streak after suffering setbacks at Portland, Phoenix, and Utah in recent days. They’d like to stop their slide, and on paper, a game versus the undermanned Rockets looks like a prime opportunity to do so.
At home in a nationally televised game, it’s hard to imagine the 76ers not coming out focused. If they do, they’re a better team on paper.
Prediction: 116-104, 76ers
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
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