Free NBA Pick: 76ers vs. Raptors NBA Odds
Looking for Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the 76ers taking on the Raptors on Saturday, April 23rd, 2022 at Scotiabank Arena. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this 76ers Raptors matchup.
2022 NBA Playoffs Handicapping Round 1
(3-0) Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors (0-3)
Date: Saturday, April 23rd
Time: 2:00 PM EST
Venue: Bankers Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
NBA Moneyline Odds: 76ers -141 | Raptors +140 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: 76ers -3
NBA Betting Total: 213.5
This could be the first playoff series to wrap up with the fourth-seed Philadelphia 76ers and fifth-seed Toronto Raptors meeting on Saturday, April 23rd to play game 4 with Philly up 3-0.
This series is ahead of the other Eastern series with some teams in the East only playing their third game today (Nets – Celtics). The 76ers won both games easily in Philly then clawed back from a 16-point deficit forcing overtime and winning to put themselves in this position.
Philadelphia 76ers
Scotiabank Arena holds bad memories for Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris who were on this court for that infamous game 7 in 2019 when Kawhi Leonard made a walk-off game-winner that bounced on the rim four times before falling in.
They’ve carried that memory with them ever since and are eager to bury that ghost with a victory Saturday and sweep of the Raptors.
Embiid has improved in each game delivering his best performance in Game 3 with a double-time of 33 points and 13 rebounds.
Harris (11 points, 12 rebounds) and James Harden (19 points, 10 assists) also dropped double-doubles although Harden fouled out as he became a target for the Raptors’ offense.
Tyrese Maxey offered 19 points but notably has scored less in each game (38, 23, 19) shooting his lowest efficiency (44.4%) of the three matches.
Embiid (thumb) is probable, Matisse Thybulle (COVID vaccination) is ineligible and Charles Bassey (shoulder) is out Saturday.
Toronto Raptors
Arguably the hottest team entering the postseason was the Toronto Raptors but fell prey to a poor Game 1 as has they’ve done more often than not in history. But that was just the start of their misfortunes.
Gary Trent Jr. had been dealing with a bad flu that clearly impacted his energy level in Game 1, and took him out of Game 2 after 10 minutes. Rooke Scottie Barnes was perhaps the best overall Raptors player that opening match flirting with a triple-double and then – the injury.
It was one of those weird plays where Barnes ended up on the ground and Joel Embiid moving forward in his natural motion stepped on his ankle – all reported 300 pounds of him, so the fact Barnes wasn’t more seriously injured was a miracle.
Game 3 seemed to be headed in the direction of a victory for Toronto but they lost on a last-second 3-pointer in overtime by MVP candidate Embiid.
That’s the thing about a young rebuilding team – they were oh so close to making noise in these playoffs but Nick Nurse didn’t play his core ridiculous minutes all season for no reason. They have very little leeway in who the bench boss feels comfortable with doling out extensive minutes to.
And those minutes are entirely based on defensive ability. If you catch their games during the season you’ll never see a player pulled for taking a dumb shot – but miss a coverage on defense or fail to give effort on that end and they’ll quickly be yanked off the floor.
Despite Barnes being 20 years old he’s become an integral part of the Raptors rotation often handling the playmaking and defending all five positions.
As of Friday, Nurse was saying his rookie was doubtful to play Saturday, however, it’s notable the walking boot came off two days after the injury (a week ago Saturday). Most mild ankle sprains tend to require approximately six days so we’ll see if Nurse is playing coy on Barnes.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Philadelphia is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
- Toronto is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia’s last 7 games.
- Toronto is 7-2 SU in their last 9 games at home.
- The 76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite.
- The Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog.
Free Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA Prediction:
While no team has come back from 0-3, one thing that is certain is these Raptors won’t raise a white flag. This club is comprised of players who have a ton of pride and while they may fall regardless, it won’t be for a lack of trying.
A cornerstone of the Raptors’ identity and culture is winning — and bringing a competitive spirit to the court regardless of who is available or whether they are severe underdogs.
They know the timing of these injuries hurt them but it’s also clear they are still in a reformatting mode so offseason moves will need to be made to shore up their depth and plug gaps. The core is strong with a young rookie who has the potential to be a superstar.
Nurse will have this team ready and focused as they look to win at least one game for their fans who like the Raptors have suffered more than any other team in the league due to COVID.
Three times this season the Raptors lost three games in a row (their longest losing streak) so if they play to their character this should be a win regardless of what Embiid told Drake.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Raptors +3
If you’re looking for more NBA picks like this Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors matchup we’ll be providing 4* free NBA predictions on the blog during the entire NBA season, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free NBA predictions!
Register here for a FREE NBA Betting Account Now for Daily Free Picks & More Special Offers!