Joel Embiid, James Harden and the No. 4 seed Philadelphia 76ers begin their 2022 NBA playoff journey on Saturday. The Sixers host the No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors for Game 1 of a best-of-seven series, with divisional rivals squaring off at Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia is 51-31 overall and 24-17 at home. Toronto is 48-34 overall, including an 8-2 mark in the last 10 games, and 24-17 in road games. Jaden Springer (knee) is questionable for Philadelphia, with Charles Bassey (shoulder) ruled out. Toronto reports no injuries for Game 1.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Philadelphia as the 4.5-point favorite at home for this 6 p.m. ET tipoff. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over-under, is 216.5 in the latest 76ers vs. Raptors odds. Before making any Raptors vs. 76ers picks, be sure to see the NBA playoff 2022 predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters the 2022 NBA playoffs on a stunning 85-55 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,400. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Raptors vs. Sixers, and just locked in its picks and NBA Playoff predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Sixers vs. Raptors:
Raptors vs. 76ers spread: 76ers -4.5 Raptors vs. 76ers over-under: 216.5 points Raptors vs. 76ers money line: 76ers -190, Raptors +160 TOR: The Raptors are 25-15-1 against the spread in road games PHL: The 76ers are 17-24 against the spread in home games
Featured Game | Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors
Why the Raptors can cover
Toronto enters the series as the underdog, but the Raptors are elite in multiple categories on both offense and defense. In addition to overall balance with five players averaging more than 15 points per game, Toronto is excellent in ball security, ranking No. 2 in the NBA in turnovers per game (12.5) and No. 2 in live-ball turnovers per game (6.7). The Raptors are also in the top three of the NBA in offensive rebound rate (32.5 percent) and second-chance points (16.5 per game). Toronto takes advantage of transition as well, averaging 15.8 fast break points per game, and the Raptors have the personnel to make life difficult for Harden and Philadelphia’s perimeter players with a switching scheme on defense.
The Raptors create 15.8 turnovers per game, No. 2 in the NBA, and Toronto is near the top of the league in steals (9.0 per game) and points off turnovers (19.0 per game). Toronto is also in the top 10 of the league in fast break points allowed and points allowed in the paint, and Philadelphia is last in the NBA in offensive rebound rate at 24.6 percent.
Why the 76ers can cover
Philadelphia’s offense is dynamic, headlined by a pair of superstars. Embiid is an MVP candidate this season, averaging 30.6 points to lead the NBA. Embiid also adds 11.7 rebounds per game with top-flight defense at the rim. Harden is averaging 21.0 points, 10.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds per game in the 21 contests since he joined Philadelphia, and the 76ers are scoring 1.13 points per possession. Philadelphia is in the top three of the NBA in free throw attempts (23.8 per game) and free throw accuracy (82.1 percent), with top-five marks in turnovers per game (12.5) and live-ball turnovers per game (6.6).
On defense, the 76ers rank near the top of the league in 3-pointers allowed, 3-point accuracy allowed, free throw attempts allowed and assists allowed. Toronto is No. 28 in the NBA in 2-point percentage, No. 29 in the NBA in assists per game, and last in assist rate, with bottom-10 marks in 3-point percentage, free throw creation and free throw accuracy.
How to make Raptors vs. 76ers picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the total, projecting 217 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s 76ers vs. Raptors pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Raptors vs. 76ers? And which side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Raptors vs. 76ers spread you need to jump on Saturday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
