Sixers and Raptors Well Rested for Round Two
The Toronto Raptors (4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS) and Philadelphia 76ers (4-1 SU and ATS) both made quick work of their first-round opponents. They’ll meet tonight in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal. The Raptors took their regular-season series 3-1 SU and ATS. The Raptors are willing to ride Kawhi Leonard as far as he can take them. They better hurry as Leonard is scheduled to become a free agent after the season.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT, Sportsnet One (Toronto) LINE: Raptors -6.5; O/U: 224.5.
The All-Star small forward averaged 27.8 points and 6.6 rebounds in the first round against the Orlando Magic. Leonard averaged 30.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and four steals in three games against Philly. Philadelphia is likely to assign Ben Simmons to be the primary defender against him. Third-seeded Philadelphia dispatched the Brooklyn Nets in its first-round series. The team is looking to win multiple playoff series for the first time since losing in the 2001 NBA Finals. Toronto has lost in the second round in each of the past two seasons. They reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2016.
Both teams in this matchup won each of their past four games after dropping their first-round openers. The rest in between series should help the Sixers more, as center Joel Embiid has been in and out of the lineup with a sore knee.
This, That, and a Dart Throw
The Raptors are relatively healthy heading into the second round. PG Kyle Lowry dislocated a finger during Tuesday’s Game 5 win over the Orlando Magic. Lowry popped his finger back into place after the injury and continued to play. Forward O.G. Anunoby is still recovering from his emergency appendectomy. He might not appear in this series., as third-string center Chris Boucher is iffy with back spasms.
Philadelphia Center Joel Embiid has battled knee issues of late. He averaged 26.3 points and 11.8 rebounds against the Raptors in the regular season. Simmons committed an average of 6.3 turnovers while recording 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists. 24 of the 25 turnovers came in losses. Philadelphia has lost 13 straight games in Toronto dating back to a 93-83 win on Nov. 10, 2012. F Mike Scott to miss Game 1 with a right heel contusion that he suffered Tuesday in Game 5 versus the Brooklyn Nets.
The Raptors‘, Leonard had outings of 36 and 31 points in the regular season against the 76ers. Leonard has been receiving yeoman help from young forward Pascal Siakam. He averaged 22.6 points and 8.4 rebounds in the series against Orlando. The Raptors are just 2-14 in Game 1’s.
The Dart Throw: Raptors 104, 76ers 98
NBA Playoffs Betting Odds & Trends
| Philadelphia 76ers |
|---|
| Philadelphia is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games |
| Philadelphia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games |
| The total has gone OVER in 13 of Philadelphia’s last 19 games |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia’s last 6 games on the road |
| Philadelphia is 4-13 ATS in its last 17 games when playing Toronto |
| Philadelphia is 3-21 SU in its last 24 games when playing Toronto |
| The total has gone OVER in 10 of Philadelphia’s last 14 games when playing Toronto |
| Philadelphia is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Toronto |
| Philadelphia is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto |
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia’s last 7 games when playing on the road against Toronto |
| Toronto Raptors |
|---|
| Toronto is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games |
| Toronto is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games |
| The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto’s last 6 games |
| Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home |
| Toronto is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home |
| Toronto is 13-4 ATS in its last 17 games when playing Philadelphia |
| Toronto is 21-3 SU in its last 24 games when playing Philadelphia |
| The total has gone OVER in 10 of Toronto’s last 14 games when playing Philadelphia |
| Toronto is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Philadelphia |
| Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia |
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto’s last 7 games when playing at home against Philadelphia |
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