Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors Game 3 Prediction, NBA Odds
The Sixers are 2-point favourites on the NBA odds to take a 3-0 series lead.
76ers vs. Raptors NBA Playoff Betting Odds
It’s pretty rare for an NBA team to rally from a 0-2 series deficit and win it, but perhaps the Raptors can take solace in that it happened a whopping four times in the 2021 playoffs: Twice by the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA Finals and Eastern Conference semis) and twice by the Los Angeles Clippers (Western Conference first round and semifinals). The Raptors rallied from a 0-2 deficit against the Bucks in the 2019 East Finals. So, it can be done.
With Philadelphia up 2-0 in the series, it is -1667 to win it (was -455) with Toronto at +842 (was +352). On the series handicap of 1.5 games, the Sixers are -526 at -1.5 and the Raptors +374 at +1.5. The favoured exact result is Philadelphia in five at +160, and the over-under total games is 5.5 with the under a -250 favourite.
Philadelphia is 1-5 against the spread in its past six as the road team vs. Toronto.
Philadelphia 76ers
The big news for Games 3-4 is that young Sixers guard Matisse Thybulle can’t play because he’s unvaccinated for COVID. Raptors fans may not want to hang their hat simply on his absence as Thybulle has totalled only 29 minutes in the first two games with eight points. He’s more of a specialist on defence. Philadelphia followed up its 20-point win in Game 1 with a 15-point victory in Game 2. Joel Embiid showed why he’s an MVP candidate with 31 points and 11 rebounds. James Harden was rather quiet with only 14 points. Once again, the Dinos had no answer for Tyrese Maxey (23 points, nine rebounds, eight assists) and Tobias Harris (20 points, 10 rebounds). Philly is getting almost nothing from its bench, including Thybulle, but the starters are utterly dominating. The Sixers are 0-5 ATS in their past five road games.
Toronto Raptors
It’s common knowledge that home teams generally have an advantage when it comes to calls via the officials, and the Raptors have to hope so because calls have been one-sided against them in the first two games in Philadelphia. The Sixers shot 30 free throws in Game 2 and made 26, while the Raptors attempted only 12 and made 10. There’s your margin of victory right there. Four Toronto players finished with at least four fouls in Game 2. Gary Trent Jr. tried to play through an illness but perhaps shouldn’t have as he was scoreless in 10 minutes before leaving. Rookie Scottie Barnes missed the game with a sprained ankle after being maybe the team’s best player in Game 1. We may not know if Barnes can play in Game 3 until pre-game shootaround. Precious Achiuwa started for him in Game 2 and had seven points in 29 minutes. The Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their past four as a home dog.
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