Philadelphia 76ers vs. Portland Trail Blazers Prediction, Preview, and Odds
In a non-conference matchup between two teams that have each lost two in a row, the Trail Blazers host the 76ers.
The 76ers had won five in a row before losing their last two games. They are still 6-4 in their last 10 games and third place in the Eastern Conference. Reigning MVP Joel Embiid, who recently put up 70 points in a game, did not play in the last game and is questionable for this game as are two other key players.
The Blazers have lost two in a row and four of their last five games. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games and have the second-fewest wins in the Western Conference. Portland comes into this game as a 9-point underdog with the total sitting at 224.5.
Not the Marquee Matchup
In their last game, the 76ers were on the road in a 111-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets, which was supposed to be a marquee matchup of the last two MVPs in Embiid and Nikola Jokic. In the loss, Philly shot a better overall field goal percentage (53.1% to 45.1%) but did not shoot the 3-pointer as well (27.3% to 35.1%) and they were outscored from the free throw line 24-13. Paul Reed blew up for a season-high 30 points in the loss while averaging 6.2 ppg on the season and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 25 points. The 76ers covered as an 8.5-point underdog and they had failed to cover the spread in their previous three games.
On the season Philadelphia ranks sixth in the league in points per game and ninth in opponents’ ppg. It will be a big blow if JoelEmbiid does not play, as he leads the NBA averaging 36 ppg, and sixth in rebounding averaging 11.4 ppg. Not only is Embiid a question mark but so is second leading scorer Tyrese Maxey (25.7 ppg) and third-leading scorer Tobias Harris (17.7 ppg), who also both missed the last game. Oubre Jr. (12.8 ppg) had only totaled 17 points in three games before going for 25 points in the last one. On the season the 76ers are 12-9 on the road and in their third game of the season, which was at home, they laid a 126-98 beat down on the Blazers.
Worse than the Worst
The Blazers rank dead last in the league in scoring at 107.8 ppg and in the losses in their last two games, they have been worse than that only scoring 96 points and 100 points respectively. In their last game, they were at home and lost to the Chicago Bulls 104-96 where they struggled with their shot, especially from long range. The Blazers only shot 40.5% from the floor and 18.2% from 3-point land and they allowed the Bulls to shoot 46.7% and 25% from deep. Jerami Grant led the way in the losing effort with 24 points on 5-12 shooting and Deandre Ayton had a double-double with 22 points on 9-12 shooting and 12 rebounds. The Blazers failed to cover the spread as a 6-point underdog and have not covered in the last two games.
Portland not only ranks last in the NBA in scoring but also only ranks 19th in opponents’ ppg. Anfernee Simons (23.7 ppg) is the leading scorer for the team and only had 11 points on 26.7% shooting in the last game after totaling 73 points in the previous two games. Grant (21.1 ppg) has not shot over 42% in any of the last three games and had not reached his season average in scoring in four straight games before going for 24 points in the last one. Third leading scorer Shaedon Sharpe (15.9 ppg) is still out with an injury. On the season Portland is 7-13 at home.
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Full-Game Side Bet
Rating:
Both of these teams have lost two in a row but the 76ers are near the top of the Eastern Conference while the Blazers are near the bottom of the Western Conference. The top three scorers for the 76ers all missed the last game and all three are questionable for this game. Philly has had an extra day of rest, as they did not play yesterday while the Blazers did in a home loss to the Bulls. I think they will be careful with their top players, especially, Embiid, who is having another MVP type of season. Portland will take advantage of the shorthanded 76ers and while they may not get the win, they will cover the nearly double-digit spread at home.
Take the Blazers at +9.
Prediction: Blazers +9
Full-Game Total Pick
Rating:
Both of these teams went Under the total in their last game and that is the pick I am leaning towards in this game. The 76ers were without star Joel Embiid in the last game as well as the second and third leading scorers and they are all listed as questionable. Possibly missing some scoring, the 76ers will not put up a high total just like the last game. However, they have a solid defense and they will be facing a Portland team that ranks dead last in the league in ppg and has failed to score over 100 points in their last two games. This game has low scoring written all over it, which is why the Under is the pick.
Take the Under 224.5.
Prediction: Under 224.5
Jason digs every sport, but the NFL is his favorite. His team is the Washington Football Team and his 2nd favorite is whoever is playing the Cowboys! Jason is a strong handicapper, who graced us with his talents here at Stat Salt. He doesn't don't just write about sports, but he also is an avid sports bettor. Jason has done very well at that and it would be a good idea to follow his picks.
