76ers vs. Raptors Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
The Sixers will be favored on the NBA odds – if they are at full strength.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
LeBron James is currently the NBA MVP favourite, but Philadelphia centre Joel Embiid is having easily his best season and could steal the award – although the one concern is that Embiid has some trouble staying healthy. He hasn’t had any serious injuries this season but often misses one here or there due to a troublesome back.
That Sunday isn’t part of a back-to-back makes it more likely that Embiid plays. Philadelphia has been almost unbeatable with its preferred starting lineup of Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, Seth Curry and Danny Green but is not a good team when Embiid sits.
Philly hosted Toronto on Dec. 29 and beat the Dinos 100-93. Embiid left briefly with an injury but returned and finished with 29 points, 16 rebounds and four assists. He was 14-for-16 from the free-throw line – Toronto was 12-for-14 as a team from the charity stripe. Harris had 26 points, and Simmons 11 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Kyle Lowry had 24 points in his hometown, but Fred VanVleet was held to eight points on 3-for-12 shooting.
The teams have split the past 10 meetings against the spread.
Philadelphia 76ers
Embiid certainly boosted his MVP case on Friday with a career-high 50 points, not to mention 17 rebounds, five assists and four blocks in a win over Chicago. He joined Wilt Chamberlain (four times) as the only players in franchise history with at least 50 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a game. Fellow All-Star Simmons missed his second straight game with the flu. Obviously, we won’t speculate and there is no indication of COVID, but these days teams are going to hold guys out just in case. Simmons’ status will clearly affect the spread here. The Sixers have covered only three of their past 10 on the road.
Toronto Raptors
The sign of a good, veteran team? Winning when you probably shouldn’t. The Dinos were favoured at Minnesota on Friday but no one would have been shocked had they lost off back-to-back wins at Milwaukee. There was some sluggishness on offence, no doubt, but an 86-81 victory – closing on an 11-0 run. Norman Powell had a season-high 31 points. Lowry was out with a thumb injury and is questionable here. OG Anunoby got a rest game off an injury but should play Sunday. The Chris Boucher starting experiment didn’t work. He got into foul trouble early. We will make our pick on Lowry and Simmons playing. If for some reason Embiid doesn’t, definitely back the Dinos.
PHI
TOR