Tip off: 7:05 PM EST
Spread: SAS -3
Total: 193
ML: SAS -155, PHI +135
Bet at Bookmaker, the source of these odds
Philadelphia
The 76ers sit six games above .500 at 27-21 and are in first place in the Atlantic Division, which guarantees them a top three seed in the NBA Playoffs should they maintain. They defeated the Celtics by 13 on Friday night, as six Sixers scored in double figures, led by Elton Brand’s 20 points on 10 of 15 shooting. The Sixers turned the ball over only eight times.
Six Sixers players average double figures in scoring. Louis Williams (15.8), Jrue Holiday (13.9), Thaddeus Young (13.1), Andre Iguodala (12.3), Elton Brand (10.6), and Spencer Hawes (10.1) round out the Sixers’ attack. Williams is a legit contender for the Sixth Man of the Year award, and it will be either Williams or James Harden of the Thunder that win the award.
The Sixers are a threat in the Playoffs, but aren’t worlds better than the teams at the bottom of the playoff picture, and a lot of people don’t take the Sixers serious as contenders because they lack a premier scoring option. That may or may not even be true, if Louis Williams has anything to say about it.
Sixers Betting Trends:
The Sixers are 26-22 ATS this season and 4-9 ATS as an underdog. They are 11-16 ATS in the second half of the season and 5-1 ATS after a division game. They are 8-16 ATS vs teams with winning records. The total has gone UNDER In 29 of the last 48 games and it has gone UNDER 3 of 3 times when the Sixers are underdogs of 3 points or less. It has gone UNDER all 8 of the last 8 times revenging a loss against an opponent.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are once again one of the best teams in the league and lead their Southwest Division with a 32-14 record. They have done all of this for the most part without high scoring Argentine guard Manu Ginobili, too.
Acquiring Stephen Jackson may prove huge. The Spurs sent Richard Jefferson to the Warriors for Jackson and this is his second stint in San Antonio, as he won a championship with the Spurs in 2003. Jackson should prove to be a strong perimeter force for the Spurs, especially if Manu isn’t ready to go come playoff time (or if he gets hurt again!).
Tony Parker is having another great year, but most forget he actually isn’t old. The 29 year old Parker is averaging 19.4 points per game and 8.0 assists per night, while shooting 47.1% from the floor. He made the All Star team again this season, and though Tim Duncan is aging quickly, the Spurs still remain a formidable threat in the Western Conference.
Spurs Betting Trends:
The Spurs are 27-18 ATS this season and 16-7 ATS at home. They are 10-3 ATS after a division game and 16-7 ATS in the second half of the season. The total has gone OVER in 25 of the last 46 game and it has gone OVER in half of the last 60 games as a favorite of 3 points or less. The Spurs are 17-9 ATS in games in which the total is between 190 and 194.5
