MENU
The Philadelphia 76ers restart their season against the Indiana Pacers on August 1, 2020.
Philadelphia is currently tied with Indiana with a record of 39-26 but the Pacers are ranked one spot higher at #5 because of a better head to head record. Indiana leads their season series 2-1 SU and the Pacers are 3-0 ATS against the Sixers this season. The Pacers will be without Domantas Sabonis who is out with a foot injury while it remains to be seen if the Sixers’ All-Star center Joel Embiid will be 100% in this game after sitting out their last two scrimmage games.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers will attempt to overtake the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night. The Sixers are currently in 6th place in the Eastern Conference team standings but have the same win-loss record as the Pacers. The winner of this game gets sole possession of 5th place and that’s what the Sixers are aiming to do.
Joel Embiid leads the Sixers with 23.4 points and 11.8 rebounds per game while his tag team partner Ben Simmons is putting up 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game this season. Tobias Harris is also having a big year with 19.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest. Al Horford is also contributing 12.9 points and 6.8 boards per contest. The Sixers are without Raul Neto while Glen Robinson is questionable with a calf injury.
The Sixers have the 6th best scoring defense in the NBA at 107.4 points per game allowed this season. They are only 21st in scoring at 109.6 points per game. Philadelphia is ranked 8th in passing at 25.9 assists per game this year. The Sixers are 11th off the boards at 45.5 rebounds per contest.
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are 39-26 on the season, tied with the Sixers. However, because they lead the season series 2-1, they are temporarily in 5th place in the East. Indiana though can separate themselves from Philadelphia if they beat the Sixers on Saturday night. However, they will have to do it without Domantas Sabonis who left the bubble after suffering a foot injury.
T.J. Warren has stepped up in Victor Oladipo’s absence as he led the Pacers in scoring at 18.7 points per game. Malcolm Brogdon is also having a great year as the former Rookie of the Year winner is putting up 16.3 points and a team-high 7.1 assists per game. Jeremy Lamb and Myles Turner are also putting up double-digit numbers at 12.5 and 11.8 points per game, respectively. Aside from Sabonis, Indiana is without Jeremy Lamb and Goga Bitadze while Oladipo remains questionable and an announcement is expected to be made prior to the game.
The Pacers have the 7th best defense in the league at only 107.4 points per game allowed. They are ranked just 22nd in scoring at 109.3 points per game this season. Indiana is the 6th best passing team in the NBA at 25.9 assists per game and they are also 24th in rebounding at 42.8 boards grabbed per contest.
Who Wins?
The Sixers are 5-5 SU in their last 10 games played. Philadelphia is 1-5 SU in their last six games played on the road, and 5-2 SU in their last seven games. The Pacers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played and Indiana is 5-2 SU in their last seven games played on the road. However, the Pacers are 1-6 SU in their last seven games as the underdog and 1-6 SU in their last seven games against the Atlantic Division. Head to head, the Pacers have won two out of the last three meetings between these two teams.
The Pacers suffered a huge blow after Domantas Sabonis suffered a foot injury. Sabonis is their best rebounder and is also scoring 18 points per game and handing off 5 assists per night. His numbers are going to be tough to replace and Indiana lost a key defender who could help contain Joel Embiid in the shaded lane. Indiana still has Myles Turner but without Sabonis, he will have his hands full against the Sixers.
Indiana may have gotten a break as Embiid’s health is under scrutiny right now. The Sixers’ All-Star big man missed the team’s last two scrimmage games. Although there is no injury reported, we may see his minutes limited on Saturday night. I like the Sixers to win this game though, as I think Sabonis scoring will be terribly missed in this game.
Prediction: Philadelphia 76ers (-225)
Other Bets to Make
Philadelphia is 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Sixers are 2-4 ATS in their last six games played on the road and 1-4 ATS against an opponent from the Central Division. Indiana is 5-3-2 ATS in their last 10 games played and the Pacers are 4-2-1 ATS in their last seven games played on the road. Head to head, the Pacers are 3-0 ATS in their last three games played against the Sixers.
I think the Pacers will keep this game close as they are a team that plays hard and they have solid depth to keep up with the Sixers. I like the Pacers as +5.5 underdogs here because they have enough firepower to go toe to toe with the Sixers. I think this game will be closer than the 5.5 spread that the oddsmakers have set. I’m looking at a one-possession game here.
Prediction: Pacers +5.5 (-110)
The total has gone over in eight out of the last 10 games played by the Sixers. The over is 4-2 in Philly’s last six road games. The total has gone over in five out of the last six games played by the Pacers. Indiana has seen the total go over in four out of their last seven road games. Head to head, the total has gone under in eight out of the last nine meetings between these two teams.
Over
213.5 (-110)
Under
213.5 (-110)
Odds from BetOnline as of 07/31/20
These teams have combined to score an average of 217.33 points per game in their last three head to head meetings and went for 224 in their last meeting held on February 8, 2020. These teams are in the bottom half in the league in scoring defense. The Kings are in the Bottom 10 in scoring but San Antonio also has a Bottom 10 defense. Without elite defense, both teams will have to rely on their scoring to win this game and get closer to the 8th seed.
Prediction: Under 213.5 (-110)
Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks 04/19/2023 NBA Odds and Prediction
New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers 04/17/2023 MLB Preview and Prediction
Minnesota Twins vs New York Yankees 04/14/2023 MLB Preview and Prediction
OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans 04/12/2023 NBA Play-in Tournament Odds and Prediction
