The Raptors get their second crack on the 76ers Tuesday evening, however this time Joel Embiid is suiting up for Philadelphia. In the meantime, Steph Curry and the Warriors put their three-game profitable streak on the road towards the visiting Nuggets.
SI Editor Matt Ehalt is the visitor picker this week. Let’s get into the video games.
Season report: 54-51-1
Visitor pickers: 35-65
Check the Latest NBA Odds at SI Sportsbook
Nick Wass/AP
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Unfold: 76ers -6.5 (-110) | Raptors +6.5 (-110)
Moneyline: 76ers (-300) | Raptors (+240)
Complete: Below 211.5 (-110) | Over 211.5 (-110)
Accidents: 76ers C Andre Drummond—Out; Raptors F Pascal Siakam—Questionable; Raptors G Gary Trent Jr.—Questionable; Raptors F Scottie Barnes—Out; Raptors G Fred VanVleet—Out; Raptors F OG Anunoby—Out;
The 76ers misplaced to the Raptors, 115-109, earlier this season in Philadelphia with out Embiid. Philadelphia is 14-8 with Embiid this season and 3-8 with out its All-Star middle, who’s averaging 28.2 factors in December.
Philadelphia is a significantly better group on the street (11-8) than at dwelling (6-8), and is recent off a 21-point win over the Wizards in Washington on Sunday.
The 76ers are simply inside the highest six groups within the East after scoring a key win over the seventh-place Wizards. The 76ers’ offense ranks No. 24 (105.7 PPG), although it compensates with the eighth-ranked scoring protection (106 PPG).
Toronto has solely performed twice within the final 10 days as a consequence of three postponed video games. The outcomes of these video games are troublesome to attract many conclusions from.
The primary was a 19-point win over the Warriors with out Steph Curry, Draymond Inexperienced or Jordan Poole, and the second was a 45-point loss to the Cavaliers with hardly any recognizable starters. The Raptors are nonetheless lacking most of their normal beginning 5, however they might welcome again Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent Jr., each of whom not too long ago cleared the league’s well being and security protocols.
The Raptors are barely clinging on to a play-in recreation spot, largely because of the group’s No. 9 scoring protection (106.5 PPG). Offense has been the difficulty for Toronto—it ranks twenty first in scoring (106.1 PPG) and its second and third main scorers (OG Anunoby and Siakam) have missed greater than 10 video games every.
Table of Contents
Kyle Wooden’s Bets:
Unfold decide: 76ers -6.5
This decide is predicated on availability, general expertise and current efficiency, so the 76ers are a straightforward alternative. Even when Toronto returns a few of its starters from COVID-19-induced absences, Embiid is one of the best participant on the courtroom. Toronto’s roster and schedule has been upended and that confirmed itself within the walloping it took towards Cleveland. Philadelphia has quite a bit going for it because it appears to even the season collection.
Over/Below decide: Over 211.5
Regardless of their low-ranked offense, Raptors video games go over on the third-highest fee within the league (56.7%). 76ers video games keep underneath 62.5% of the time. Philadelphia has had some bother scoring as of late, past its 117-point displaying final day trip, however this quantity is simply too low. Toronto practically scored triple digits with its skeleton squad Sunday evening. That’s actually all it must do to maintain enterprise.
Prop: Seth Curry Over 3.5 Assists
Seth Curry has excelled as a playmaker in December, averaging 5.1 assists per recreation. Evaluate that to 1.2 dimes per recreation in October and 2.9 in November, and the sharpshooter has proven a marked enchancment in his ball distribution skills. Curry has gone over this determine in 5 straight video games, together with a season-high 9 assists towards Washington when his shot did not fall. I’ll take the over with plus odds (+116).
Visitor Picker Matt Ehalt’s Bets:
Unfold decide: Raptors +6.5
I used to be able to again the 76ers, however a deeper dive into their developments reveals Philadelphia is simply 2-6 ATS as a house favourite. Toronto is definitely 8-6 ATS as a street underdog. I will observe the numbers right here, despite the fact that Embiid being obtainable to play and the Raptors’ inconsistent schedule provides me pause. However let’s again the Six.
Over/Below decide: Below 211.5
Philadelphia video games hit the over in simply 4 of 14 dwelling video games, whereas Toronto’s have hit the over in street video games in 9 of 14 street video games. Add in that Philadelphia’s video games have the third-worst fee of hitting the over, and I will take the underneath.
Prop: Joel Embiid over 27.5 factors
Embiid is one of the best participant on the courtroom and dealing with a group that has handled an unsure schedule. As Kyle famous, Embiid is averaging greater than this quantity in December. Let’s wager he retains it up Tuesday evening in Toronto.
Rick Scuteri/AP
Time: 10 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Unfold: Nuggets +7.5 (-110) | Warriors -7.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Nuggets (+240) | Warriors (-300)
Complete: Below 217.5 (-110) | Over 217.5 (-110)
Accidents: Nuggets F Aaron Gordon—Day-to-day; Nuggets G Monte Morris—Day-to-day; Nuggets C Bol Bol—Day-to-day; Warriors F Draymond Inexperienced—Out; Warriors G Jordan Poole—Out; Warriors F Andre Iguodola—Day-to-day
Denver shouldn’t be on the peak of its powers heading into its first matchup with the first-place Warriors. Aaron Gordon and Monte Morris, the Nuggets’ two healthiest gamers up thus far, are questionable. With accidents affecting Denver, it’s reigning MVP Nikola Jokic who has stepped up. His rebounding numbers have shot as much as 13.8 per recreation, second within the NBA, and he’s put collectively back-to-back 20-20 video games.
Jokic’s heroics and complementary play from Gordon, Morris and Will Barton Jr. have helped preserve the Nuggets alive. Denver is a beneath common offense (106.3 PPG) and a barely above common protection (106.6 PPG). The Nuggets haven’t received or misplaced greater than two video games in a row since November, hovering proper round .500.
Golden State’s sole loss within the final two weeks got here on the street with out Steph Curry, Inexperienced or Poole. The Warriors might be with out Inexperienced and Poole on Tuesday, however Curry is on the peak of his powers. He’s tallied 30-plus factors in his final 4 video games—all wins—and is second within the league in scoring (27.9 PPG). Curry can have Andrew Wiggins at his facet, who final performed Dec. 17 and is second on the group in scoring (18.7 PPG).
The Warriors’ return to the highest of the league has include nice play on either side of the ball. Although the offense has extra notoriety with Curry’s three-point fireworks, it’s the protection that anchors the group. Golden State boasts the No. 1 scoring protection (101.2 PPG) along with having the fourth-ranked offense (111.6 PPG).
Kyle Wooden’s Bets:
Unfold decide: Warriors -7.5
If the previous two seasons have proven something, it’s that Curry alone could be sufficient. He’s at his peak when flanked by Klay Thompson and working in sync with Inexperienced, however he can beat groups along with his personal greatness and skill to contain his teammates when groups throw a number of defenders at him. Golden State is 16-2 at dwelling and I prefer it to cowl towards a probably short-handed Nuggets group that has one of many worst ATS data (13-19). The Warriors are 21-10-2 ATS, the second-best mark within the league.
Over/Below decide: Over 217.5
Golden State video games surprisingly go over on the lowest fee. Denver video games, nonetheless, achieve this 53.1% of the time. This quantity is ready low sufficient to depend on the Warriors to push it excessive with a 110-115-point displaying. The Nuggets aren’t a stellar offense, however they’re additionally hardly ever held underneath 100 factors. That’s all they need to want on this one.
Prop: Nikola Jokic Rebounds Plus Assists Over 21.5
Jokic is liable to a sub-20 scoring evening right here and there, so I’m betting on his rebounding and passing prowess to shine via towards the league’s greatest group. Jokic went over this determine on rebounds alone in his final recreation and has gone over on rebounds plus assists in six of his previous 10 video games. Golden State is weak down low with out Inexperienced and Jokic will feast on the boards.
Visitor Picker Matt Ehalt’s Bets:
Unfold decide: Warriors -7.5
Betting towards the Warriors at dwelling shouldn’t be a sound technique. I am taking one of the best group within the NBA towards a short-handed group. Typically, it’s important to preserve it easy.
Over/Below decide: Below 217.5
Golden State’s dwelling video games normally hit the underneath, and there are sufficient gamers lacking on this recreation that we’ll again that development. Denver’s street video games are 11-7 in hitting the over, however Golden State’s defensive prowess can preserve this from hitting the over.
Prop: Nikola Jokic underneath 28.5 factors
The Warriors’ protection may be capable to comparatively put the clamp on Jokic, and 28 factors is nothing to sneeze at. I am betting a powerful defensive effort will preserve Jokic from showing 30, together with the chance that this turns right into a blowout.
DFS Worth Performs
(Costs primarily based on 7 p.m. foremost slate)
PG Kemba Walker, Knicks (FD: $7,600 | DK: $6,900)
PG/SG Seth Curry, 76ers (FD: $6,500 | $6,500)
SF/SG Malik Beasley, Timberwolves (FD: $6,400 | $5,400)
PF/SF Tobias Harris, 76ers (FD: $7,200 | $9,000)
C/PF Chris Bouhcer, Raptors (FD: $5,500 | $6,200)
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