Free NBA Pick: Raptors vs. 76ers NBA Odds
Looking for Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Raptors taking on the 76ers on Saturday, April 16th, 2022 at Wells Fargo Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Raptors 76ers matchup.
2022 NBA Playoffs Handicapping Round 1
(0-0) Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers (0-0)
Date: Saturday, April 16th
Time: 6:00 PM EST
Venue: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
NBA Moneyline Odds: Raptors +167 | 76ers -168 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: 76ers -4.5
NBA Betting Total: 216.5
Saturday, April 16th, the fifth-place Toronto Raptors, and fourth-place Philadelphia 76ers open their first-round Eastern Conference series. Toronto won the season series 3-1
The Raptors hold the all-time record having bested the 76ers in 61 of their 103 regular-season matches. This is the third time the franchises are meeting in the postseason with both prior times going the distance.
Allen Iverson led Philly to victory 4-3 in the inaugural meeting of 2001 while Toronto won 4-3 in 2019 behind the infamous Kawhi Leonard walk-off game-winner that sent Joel Embiid in tears from the court and propelled the Raptors onward and to an eventual title.
Toronto Raptors
Since the calendar changed to 2022 the Raptors are 33-17 which speaks to how this team has grown throughout the season. Their 10-5 record versus the top four Eastern teams is the best record of all East teams versus that group (7-2 in 2022).
The media seems to ignore how much adversity the Raptors have dealt with over the past two years which was a prominent reason why they struggled early.
No other team in the NBA had to play in another city last year and get booed by the people in attendance who were cheering for the opponents. While back in Toronto this season, the Raptors again became the only team to be playing without fans in attendance.
And while every club bemoans injuries and the COVID hits – the Raptors got hit as badly as anyone.
Consider how the Bulls plummeted down the standings missing Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso. Then look at the number of games Pascal Siakam (the best offensive player), OG Anunoby (the best team defender), Gary Trent Jr., and Fred VanVleet missed.
It paints a picture of why this team perhaps feels they don’t get their due respect from the national pundits.
OG Anunoby (thigh) is listed as probable for Saturday.
Philadelphia 76ers
The big question is how James Harden will perform versus a team with as much length, athleticism, and a coaching savant in Nurse who’ll make his life miserable. Plus watch for Nurse to have his squad attacking the bearded star on defense forcing him to foul or drive by him.
Embiid has easily won his minutes when on the court but in the last match, the teams played no one could stop Siakam which forced Doc Rivers to put his star on him.
If Embiid has to carry both the offense and defense and the 76ers lose the minutes when he sits it could spell big trouble.
The Sixers’ best defender, Matisse Thybulle can’t play in Toronto because he isn’t fully vaccinated. That’s going to be a major factor – again limiting who’ll guard Siakam.
Jaden Springer (knee) is questionable while Charles Bassey (shoulder) is out Saturday.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Toronto is 12-6 ATS in their last 18 games.
- Philadelphia is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Toronto’s last 6 games on the road.
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia’s last 6 games.
- The Raptors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- The 76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
Free Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers NBA Prediction:
Philly has the residue of that four-bounce Kawhi Leonard shot that sent them home in 2019 and this season has yet to face the fully healthy Raptors squad (at least two starters out in each game) but will get the full complement in this series.
For as much as the early narrative has all focused on the pressure on Harden or Thybulle not being available in Toronto the reality is this series could come down to the coaches.
Doc Rivers is in just as much jeopardy as the players if he can’t propel this crew to a deep run yet Nick Nurse will be a handful. That’s what makes this series arguably the most intriguing since we know Nurse will run out a full lineup of 6’8-6’9 players just to mess with Doc.
Keep an eye for the whistle disparity as I suspect Harden/Embiid will have a major advantage and Siakam won’t get calls for the same infractions. That will be a talking point in the series.
Game 1’s are typically the nemesis of the Raptors and while the roster is mostly different I’m taking the 76ers but expect the Raps to keep it close. This is Scottie Barnes’ first postseason experience and he may need a game or two to get the feel but I predict will be an x-factor in the series.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Raptors +4.5
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