by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Mar 10, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Where to watch: NBCSP, ROOT-SP+
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: 76ers -9
FanDuel: 76ers -9.5
BetMGM: 76ers -9
Caesars: 76ers -9
Season record
Blazers: 31-35
76ers: 43-22
The All-Star break is over in the NBA and it's time to get on the horse and finish up the final home stretch of the season. Big trades, uncertainty, and absolute hilarity across the board all gearing up for the final home stretch of this season. You know who is also gearing up for the home stretch? Our champion handicappers at bigal.com who are ready to win their way all the way to the playoffs. There's a lot going on that we can't wait for in these final 23-25 games and you're going to need every bit of hardcore analysis you can get from this group. Just in the last 30 days we've had some big winners. Doc's Sports has posted a 16-6-0 record in the last month (+$9,200). AAA Sports has killed it at 17-8-0, and then Al McMordie with a dominant 20-11-1 mark over the last 30 days. Everything you need to know and more about what's going on this league and sports in general will be a fun finish to the end. All you have to do is go to bigal.com and find our Best Bets page and put forth something that only you think is good. Here's a hint: Go to the bigal.com website and happy betting!
76ers - Blazers preview, prediction and analysis
The Philadelphia 76ers may or may not be surging at the right time, but they’ll try to win a fourth straight game when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.
It was a successful road trip for the 76ers, who return home following wins over the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves. The latest was a 117-94 win over Minnesota in which Joel Embiid went OFF for 39 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Tyrese Maxey wasn’t that far behind with 27 points and four made 3-pointers.
"I take pride every single time I step on the floor, no matter who's guarding, I feel like I'm unguardable," Embiid said. "I want to show them that it's not that easy to guard me."
When you’re 7-foot tall and can do everything offensively under the sun, of course you can. I’m not sure where to put the Sixers right now. Of course they have talent, and Embiid can carry them until the cows come home. But are they built for the playoffs? Can they get this from Maxey on a nightly basis while Harden continues his shooting struggles?
But three straight wins and covers in six of the last 10 are good signs for both on the court and the books. Philadelphia has altered W/L on the spread the last five games, so it’s not like this problem is fully solved, but there’s a chance that they can at least still win games so long as Embiid is doing this.
"A lot of guys that contributed throughout this whole trip and that says a lot about our team and really for us to be ready in the playoffs," Tobias Harris said. "We know who's staying ready and being locked in."
Speaking of consistency, not much to speak of for the Blazers right now. After winning two in a row, the Blazers came back down via thud after losing 115-93 to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
Damian Lillard led the way with 27 points and eight assists, but it was on 7 of 16 shooting while the Blazers shot a combined 36.6 percent from the floor. Jerami Grant had just 13 points, and Cam Reddish had just 10 points.
"We didn't play well at all," Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. "They're a good team and I talked about their balance at both ends. And it showed tonight. But we just didn't play great at all. Obviously, we didn't make shots, but I just didn't think we made the proper plays. We weren't committed to playing the right way the entire night."
Portland just hasn’t been good in any stance, with the under covering in five of the last six. Given that Portland has lost a lot as of late, that’s due primarily to their end and I wouldn’t say that’s a good thing.
Prediction
Matisse Thybulle might get a tribute video. That’s great. But the Sixers are running away with this one. 76ers 118, Blazers 105
Projected starting lineup
Blazers:
PG: Damian Lillard
SG: Cam Reddish
SF: Matisse Thybulle
PF: Jerami Grant
C: Jusuf Nurkic
76ers:
PG: James Harden
SG: Tyrese Maxey
SF: Tobias Harris
PF: P.J. Tucker
C: Joel Embiid
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this preview, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
