On Friday night, the reeling Philadelphia 76ers travel to Oklahoma City, where they will take on Chris Paul and the Thunder. Let’s dig into this one in our Sixers-Thunder betting preview.

At 7-4, the Sixers looked lost throughout a 112-97 loss to the Orlando Magic, one in which they were without the services of franchise center Joel Embiid. The Thunder enter this game 4-7, which puts them in 11th place in a competitive Western Conference. Following a six-point home win over the Steph Curry and Klay Thompson-less Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City dropped a close game against the Milwaukee Bucks and suffered a 111-85 blowout road loss to the Indiana Pacers.

[INSERT_ELEMENTOR id=”95941″]

 

No Lightning with the Thunder

To say Oklahoma City has been a disappointment would be disingenuous. After all, they’re in the midst of a rebuilding season following the off-season trades of Paul George to the Clippers and face of the franchise Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets. Aside from young star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a shell of Chris Paul, and Steven Adams – who must be wondering what he did to anger the basketball gods – this is a squad of misfit toys and castoffs. Failed Atlanta PG Dennis Schröder provides some bench scoring, but the frontcourt includes former Sixers Nerlens Noel and Mike Muscala, neither of whom inspire confidence.

 

CP3’s Best Days Are Far Behind Him

Chris Paul is nowhere near the player he was during his Lob City days, averaging a per-game-career-low in points, assists, rebounds, and minutes. The one thing Paul’s excelled at this year is his distance shooting, where his 42.6% 3P% is the highest of his career.

 

Sixers vs. Thunder Odds

Here’s the line for the Sixers and Thunder at DraftKings Sportsbook PA:

  • Spread: Sixers -3.5, Thunder +3.5
  • Moneyline: Sixers -162, Thunder +135
  • Total: 213.5

 

Bets We Like with a Sixers Win

Sixers Win and Joel Embiid Over 29.5 Points (+450, FOX Bet)

The Sixers are favored to win this game, which bodes well for the team, as the favorite has won the Sixers’ last twelve games. Joel Embiid is averaging 23 points per game this season and 28 points per game in four career head-to-head games against Steven Adams. Embiid racked up 34, 27, and 31 points in each of the last three matchups against OKC. There are two potential hurdles to this bet: Embiid hasn’t looked like a guy operating at peak physical performance in November and the Sixers’ most recent victory over OKC came last February without Embiid.

New users at FOX Bet can get a $20 free bet with no deposit and a $100 deposit match when they sign up here.

 

Bets We Like with a Thunder Win

FOX Bet is offering #CustomBets of note on the game tonight.

Thunder Win and Steven Adams Over 14.5 Points (+600, FOX Bet)

Let’s get this out of the way: I don’t expect OKC to win, however in four career head-to-head matchups, Steven Adams is 4-0 against Joel Embiid and has gone over 14.5 points in three of those games. Prior to a February 28 loss in OKC, the Thunder had won NINETEEN straight matchups going back to the 2008-09 season.

 

Bets We Like Independent of Outcome

Sixers Cover and Under the Total Points Line (+275, DraftKings)

You can get this one at DraftKings Sportsbook and while you’re at it get the Eagles at +300 this weekend if you’re a new user when you sign up here.

FiveThirtyEight gives the Sixers a 62% chance of winning with a -3.5 point line, right inline with implied probability.

There are two main factors that play into this:

  • Following a road loss, the Sixers have covered the spread in six of their last seven games.
  • The Thunder have seen six of their last eight home games finish under the total points line.

 

Sixers vs. Thunder Prediction

Joel Embiid plays like a man possessed, silences the critics, and the Sixers win.

Pick: Sixers and the under