76ers vs. Raptors Point Spread: NBA Odds, Prediction
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Jeremy Perry
The Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors are both in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference one and a half months into the NBA season. The Raptors have set the pace thus far in the East, but the Sixers are hot on their heels. They’ve won four straight and eight of their last nine to close the gap to three games. This will be a prime opportunity to make a statement.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Sixers are 17-8 overall, but only 11-14 against the spread this season after beating the Memphis Grizzlies over the weekend. Philadelphia averages 114.2 points per game but is struggling on defence, allowing 111.8 points per game. The win over Memphis was notable because the Sixers were able to find more comfort at the defensive end of the floor. They allowed only 95 points to Memphis and contained a team which has had a surprisingly good start to the season.
The Raptors are 11-13-1 against the spread this season, 20-5 straight up, following an unexpected home loss to the Denver Nuggets. The Raptors average 116.6 points per game but scored only 103 against Denver. The Raptors allow 108.3 points per game, so their performance against Denver on defence was not that bad. The Nuggets scored only 106.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers’ most recent game against Memphis was striking in that barely any offensive rebounds were collected. Both Philadelphia and Memphis grabbed only three offensive rebounds apiece, so it came down to shooting percentage and free throws. Philadelphia outscored Memphis at the foul line, 23 points to 18, in the 103-95 win. The 76ers hit 49 percent of their field goal attempts while Memphis converted only 42 percent of its field goals. The stars did the work for the 76ers. Ben Simmons scored 19 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Teammate Joel Embiid posted 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. All those rebounds denied Memphis second-chance points and represented a crucial point of differentiation between the two teams. J.J. Redick scored 24 points for the Sixers, who did not let Memphis go on any extended run in the fourth quarter to preserve their working margin.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors entered their recent game against the Nuggets with a 20-4 record. They had been 10-2 at home and on the road, equally strong no matter where they play. They were then ambushed at home by a Denver team which is making a legitimate run at the top spot in the Western Conference
The Raptors could not hit threes. They were 11 for 41 from the three-point line, or 27 percent. It was one of those nights for Toronto. Kawhi Leonard went 1-for-7 from three-point range. Kyle Lowry was 1-of-6. Star players and bench players both failed to find the range on long-distance shots. Toronto was 12-of-12 from the foul line while Denver was only 15-of-24, but Denver still did get more points at the foul line. Toronto didn’t get enough easy baskets to overcome its terrible three-point shooting. Toronto also forced 20 Denver turnovers but couldn’t capitalize on them often enough.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic dazzled, scoring 23 points with 11 rebounds and 15 assists in a terrific triple-double performance. Simmons and Embiid are very capable of doing the same thing, which will make this game against Philadelphia such a challenge.
Lowry scored just five points against Denver. A remotely normal game from him should put Toronto in good shape here… but will that remotely normal game occur?
