It’s the best in the East versus one of the worst in the West when the Rockets head to Philadelphia to meet the 76ers on Wednesday.

The Sixers are heavy 10.5-point favourites to win on the NBA odds with a total of 226.5.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Houston’s season-long injury struggles have only continued to get worse and it’s obviously hurting the team.  The Rockets are 10-17 against the spread and haven’t covered in their last six games.  They are also 2-5 ATS in their last seven games against Philadelphia and 1-5 ATS in their last six road games.

Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris have all been putting points on the board and it shows.  The Sixers have hit the Over in six of their last eight games overall and four of their last five games against Western Conference opponents.  Philadelphia is 14-12-2 ATS overall and 7-1 ATS in their last eight games at home against Houston.

Houston Rockets

Things aren’t getting any easier for Houston.  The Rockets enter Wednesday’s contest on a six-game losing streak, including a 131-119 loss to Washington on Monday.  John Wall had a team-high 29 points in Monday’s loss.  Wall is Houston’s second leading scorer, averaging 20.0 points per game to go along with 3.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists.  Christian Wood leads the team, averaging 22.0 points per game, 10.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists.  Woods missed Monday’s game in Washington with an ankle sprain and it’s unlikely he’ll be good to go on Wednesday.

The Rockets have had significant injury problems all season.  Along with Wood, Eric Gordon, Victor Oladipo, P.J. Tucker and Dante Exum are all dealing with injuries and they are questionable to play on Wednesday.  Houston has dealt with so many injuries throughout the season that they will be using their 15h different starting lineup in 27 games.  They’re likely struggling to build chemistry as they haven’t been able to put the same starting lineup together for more than four games.

Philadelphia 76ers

Even despite a three-game losing streak, the Sixers find themselves atop the Eastern Conference standings.  Philly’s last loss came to the Utah Jazz, 134-123 on Monday.  Simmons and Harris both had monster games, but no other Sixers’ players were able to put up more than 14 points.  Simmons was one rebound away from a triple-double, finishing with a game-high 42 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists.  Harris had 36 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.

Embiid was a late scratch in Monday’s game with back stiffness, but he is expected to play on Wednesday.  The Sixers are extremely reliant on Embiid.  Philadelphia has lost five of six games their leading scoring has missed.  Embiid is averaging 29.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Rockets vs. 76ers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Rockets Team Leaders

HOU

Points	James Harden 24.75
Assists	James Harden 10.38
Rebounds	Christian Wood 9.63
FG%	Cameron Oliver 57.6
Steals	Khyri Thomas 1.8
Blocks	Khyri Thomas 1.2

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 28.45
Assists	Ben Simmons 6.91
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.57
FG%	Dwight Howard 58.7
Steals	Matisse Thybulle 1.62
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.35

HOU

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 28.09
Assists	Ben Simmons 8.83
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.55
FG%	Ben Simmons 62.1
Steals	Matisse Thybulle 1.33
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.45

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

76ers Team Leaders

HOU

Points	James Harden 24.75
Assists	James Harden 10.38
Rebounds	Christian Wood 9.63
FG%	Cameron Oliver 57.6
Steals	Khyri Thomas 1.8
Blocks	Khyri Thomas 1.2

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 28.45
Assists	Ben Simmons 6.91
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.57
FG%	Dwight Howard 58.7
Steals	Matisse Thybulle 1.62
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.35

HOU

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 28.09
Assists	Ben Simmons 8.83
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.55
FG%	Ben Simmons 62.1
Steals	Matisse Thybulle 1.33
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.45

Injuries

Houston

Khyri Thomas (SG)

Out Sun Achilles - 15 / 05 / 21

DaQuan Jeffries (SG)

Ques Fri Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Out Sun Ankle - 11 / 05 / 21

Kelly Olynyk (PF)

Ques Mon Ankle - 08 / 05 / 21

Avery Bradley (SG)

Out indefinitely Personal - 06 / 05 / 21

Kelly Olynyk (PF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 06 / 05 / 21

Jae'Sean Tate (SF)

Ques Sat Knee - 05 / 05 / 21

Kevin Porter Jr. (SG)

Out Sun Ankle - 05 / 05 / 21

Christian Wood (PF)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 03 / 05 / 21

D.J. Wilson (PF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 02 / 05 / 21

Philadelphia

Danny Green (SG)

Late June Calf - 11 / 06 / 21

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 01 / 06 / 21

George Hill (PG)

Prob Wed Knee - 01 / 06 / 21

Tobias Harris (SF)

Prob Sat Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Sat Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21

Seth Curry (SG)

Ques Wed Hand - 24 / 05 / 21

Tobias Harris (SF)

Ques Sun Rest - 16 / 05 / 21

Furkan Korkmaz (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 15 / 05 / 21

Shake Milton (PG)

Prob Sun Knee - 15 / 05 / 21

Danny Green (SG)

Ques Sun Hip - 15 / 05 / 21

Injuries

Houston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Khyri Thomas (SG)	Out Sun	Achilles - 15 / 05 / 21	2-0	2-0	+ -
Thomas exited the last contest with an Achilles injury, and he will not play against the Hawks on Sunday.
DaQuan Jeffries (SG)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21	3-0	3-0	+ -
Jeffries sat out the previous game with right ankle soreness, and it is undetermined if he will partake in Friday's tilt against the Clippers.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Out Sun	Ankle - 11 / 05 / 21	4-0	4-0	+ -
House Jr. has missed the previous two games with right ankle soreness, and he will not be available Sunday versus the Hawks.
Kelly Olynyk (PF)	Ques Mon	Ankle - 08 / 05 / 21	5-0	5-0	+ -
Olynyk sat out the last game with an ankle injury, and it is up in the air if he will suit up Monday versus the Trail Blazers.
Avery Bradley (SG)	Out indefinitely	Personal - 06 / 05 / 21	5-1	6-0	+ -
Bradley has been absent from the lineup due to a personal reason, and there is no timetable for return.
Kelly Olynyk (PF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 06 / 05 / 21	5-1	6-0	+ -
Olynyk is hampered by a right ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will participate in Friday's matchup with the Bucks.
Jae'Sean Tate (SF)	Ques Sat	Knee - 05 / 05 / 21	5-2	7-0	+ -
Tate was held out of the last game with a knee injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Jazz on Saturday.
Kevin Porter Jr. (SG)	Out Sun	Ankle - 05 / 05 / 21	5-2	7-0	+ -
Porter Jr. has missed the previous four games with a left ankle sprain, and he will not suit up for Sunday's tilt versus the Hawks.
Christian Wood (PF)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 03 / 05 / 21	5-2	7-0	+ -
Wood is sidelined with quadricep and ankle tightness, and there is no timetable for his return.
D.J. Wilson (PF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 02 / 05 / 21	5-3	7-1	+ -
Wilson is going through the NBA's health and safety protocols, and it has yet to be established when he will return.

Philadelphia

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Danny Green (SG)	Late June	Calf - 11 / 06 / 21	3-2	1-4	+ -
Green has a right calf strain, and he will be sidelined for two to three weeks.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 01 / 06 / 21	4-4	4-4	+ -
Curry is dealing with a left ankle sprain, but he is likely to be in the lineup versus the Wizards for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round.
George Hill (PG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 01 / 06 / 21	4-4	4-4	+ -
Hill is battling a left knee contusion, but he is projected to be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Wizards.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21	6-4	5-5	+ -
Harris is expected to line up for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Wizards despite an ankle injury.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21	6-4	5-5	+ -
Curry is tending to a left ankle sprain, but it is projected that he will face the Wizards in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Seth Curry (SG)	Ques Wed	Hand - 24 / 05 / 21	6-5	6-5	+ -
Curry is tending to a hand injury, and it has yet to be established if he will face the Wizards in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Ques Sun	Rest - 16 / 05 / 21	8-5	8-5	+ -
Harris is dealing with right knee recovery, and he will receive a day of rest on Sunday versus the Magic.
Furkan Korkmaz (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 15 / 05 / 21	8-5	8-5	+ -
Korkmaz is projected to take on the Magic on Sunday despite a right ankle sprain.
Shake Milton (PG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 15 / 05 / 21	8-5	8-5	+ -
Milton is managing right knee soreness, but it is likely that he will participate in Sunday's matchup with the Magic.
Danny Green (SG)	Ques Sun	Hip - 15 / 05 / 21	8-5	8-5	+ -
Green is dealing with a hip injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards.