Two of East's Top Teams Clash in Primetime
The Toronto Raptors (20-5 SU, 11-13-1 ATS) have the best record in the NBA. They’re getting the attention that comes with it. The Raptors will lead off ESPN’s Wednesday double-header when they host the Philadelphia 76ers (17-8 SU, 11-14 ATS).
It’s their second meeting of the season. Toronto won the first 129-112 as 6-point home favorites.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Philadelphia, Sportsnet One (Toronto).
LINE: Raptors -6.5; O/U: 229.5.
That was on October 30, before the 76ers acquired swingman Jimmy Butler from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Three of Philadelphia’s starters from that game are no longer in the lineup. Robert Covington and Dario Saric went to Minnesota in the Butler deal. Markelle Fultz, who’s away from the team with a lingering shoulder ailment.
The Sixers are 8-2 SU and 5-5 ATS with Butler on board.
The Raptors were close to full strength during their first encounter. Fred VanVleet was unavailable then, but he’s healthy now. Norman Powell is out with a shoulder injury of his own.
Kyle Lowry missed Saturday’s 106-95 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers with a sore back. Saturday may have been more of a maintenance day for Lowry than anything else.
This and That for Raptors and 76ers
The Raptors had an eight-game winning streak come to an end with a 106-103 home loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday. They own the best record in the NBA and forced 20 turnovers against the Nuggets. The team just could not defend without fouling down the stretch. Denver center Nikola Jokic hit three free throws in the final seven seconds to lead to the defeat.
Toronto went 11-of-41 from the 3-point line against the Nuggets. Danny Green went 3-of-9 from the floor in the loss but collected two steals without committing a turnover.
PGs Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet combined to go 2-of-14 from the floor on Monday.
The 76ers rolled through a perfect three-game homestand. It was capped by a 103-95 win over Memphis on Sunday. They are 4-7 on the road as they get set for a tough two-game trip that includes a visit to Detroit on Friday.
The Philadelphia back-court led the way in Sunday's win. Ben Simmons scored 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting while adding 12 rebounds and six assists. Simmons is shooting 67.3 percent from the field over the last five games while averaging 16.2 points and 8.4 assists.
PREDICTION: Raptors 115, 76ers 109
NBA Betting Odds & Trends
| Philadelphia 76ers | ||
|---|---|---|
| The 76ers are 8-1 SU in its last 9 games | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 9 of Philadelphia's last 13 games | ||
| The 76ers are 3-11 ATS in its last 14 games on the road | ||
| Philadelphia is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road | ||
| The 76ers are 4-10 SU in its last 14 games on the road | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games on the road | ||
| The 76ers are 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Toronto | ||
| The 76ers are 2-19 SU in its last 21 games when playing Toronto | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 6 games when playing Toronto | ||
| Philadelphia is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Toronto | ||
| The 76ers are 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 6 games when playing on the road against Toronto | ||
Toronto Raptors | ||
|---|---|---|
| The Raptors are 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games | ||
| Toronto is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 7 games | ||
| The Raptors are 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home | ||
| Toronto is 17-5 SU in its last 22 games at home | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 12 of Toronto's last 15 games at home | ||
| The Raptors are 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Philadelphia | ||
| Toronto is 19-2 SU in its last 21 games when playing Philadelphia | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing Philadelphia | ||
| The Raptors are 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Philadelphia | ||
| The Raptors are 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing at home against Philadelphia | ||
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