Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors Spread: Odds, Prediction

The promising and potential-packed Sixers roll into Toronto on Saturday looking for their first win in three tries to open the season. The Raptors are seeking to build off their blowout of the Bulls.

76ers vs. Raptors

Point Spread: Raptors -8

Date: Oct. 21, 7:30 PM ET

Air Canada Centre – Toronto, Ontario

Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Raptors opened as 8-point faves against the visiting Sixers on the Sports Interaction NBA odds board.

The 76ers are 0-2 straight up (SU) and 1-1 against the spread (ATS) to open the season after falling to the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics earlier this week. The Raps are 1-0 SU and ATS after the beat down they handed the battered Bulls on Thursday.

Philadelphia is 2-7 ATS in its last nine games against Toronto. The over is also 5-1 in the last six matchups between these two Atlantic Division opponents.

76ers

Big men shooting from distance is all the rage these days but Philly fans have to be wondering why centre Joel Embiid is settling for so many 3-point attempts. He’s 0-10 from downtown in his first two games this season although he did shoot a respectable 36.7 percent on triples last year.

The Sixers also have Robert Covington and JJ Redick to space the floor and they should be the ones taking those shots. So far the nucleus of Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz looks a little clunky chemistry-wise.

Raptors

There was a lot to like about the Raptors’ 117-110 win over Chicago, particularly the bench production. The role players picked up the slack in a major way on a night when neither Kyle Lowry nor DeMar DeRozan had the hot hand shooting.

Delon Wright looked comfortable assuming the role as the new backup point guard on his way to registering 13 points on four-of-six shooting and five assists in a little over 23 minutes. CJ Miles made six of nine from beyond the arc and poured in 22 points off the pine.

The best story of the night had to be Raptors rookie OG Anunoby. He tore his ACL in a January game while playing college hoops with the Indiana Hoosiers. He was projected to be a lottery pick but fell to the Raptors at No. 23 in the first round because of the knee injury.

There were fears he wouldn’t be able to play until Christmas but the return time kept getting shorter and shorter until he was active on the opening night roster. Anunoby is a lanky wing and is projected to be an excellent defender. He chipped in with nine points, three rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes of action. He could be a steal for Raptor Nation.

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors Prediction

Raptors 110-76ers 105