On Saturday night, the Philadelphia 76ers host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Wells Fargo Center. If you feel like you’re having déjà vu, you’re not alone. The Sixers and Cavs last met on November 17, just five days after their first encounter of the season. That 114-95 romping the Sixers put on Cleveland truly doesn’t feel that long ago. Don’t worry, things haven’t changed much. The Sixers are still jammed up in a tight race in the middle of the Eastern Conference, while the Cavs are in the midst of a five game losing streak, plummeting them further and further down the Eastern Conference standings. With that, let’s get into our Sixers-Cavaliers betting preview.

At 15-7, the Sixers find themselves in the all-too-familiar fifth place in the Eastern Conference, which puts them four and a half games back of the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Milwaukee Bucks. The Cavs are an atrocious 5-16, which puts them in thirteenth place in the East, which is somehow still a game and a half ahead of the last place New York Knicks.

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Sixers vs. Cavaliers Odds

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

  • Spread: Sixers -12, Cavaliers +12
  • Moneyline: Sixers -835, Cavaliers +600
  • Total: 213

 

Bets We Like With a Sixers Win

The Sixers are undefeated at home this season and to make things even better, they’ve been victorious in each of their last 20 home games against opponents on the second leg of a back-to-back. Additionally, the Sixers have won the last four matchups between the teams dating back to a December 16, 2018. FiveThirtyEight gives the Sixers a 89% chance of winning with a -13 point line.

Sixers Win and Under Total Points (+117, DraftKings)

The Sixers are going to win this game. It’s not a question of “if”, but by how many points. The Cavs barely passed the 100 point mark in two of their last three away games and hit it right on the mark in between. 213 total points doesn’t give a ton of wiggle room, but the Sixers typically play exceptional defense at home and have held opponents under 100 points in three of their past five home games. Additionally, the Sixers have seen their total points go under the threshold in seven of their last eight games.

Bets We Like Independent of Outcome

Cavs Cover and Under Total Points (+260, DraftKings)

While the Sixers only managed to eek out a one point win on November 12, they absolutely crushed Cleveland on the road by 19 points on November 17. That means the Sixers should win in dominant fashion, right? Wrong. A twelve point spread would be a logical bet for any fan of a legitimate contender against a bottom dweller, but these are the Sixers we’re talking about. The team has shown a propensity for playing incredibly tight games against good and bad teams alike. Heck, they just lost to the Wizards. The Sixers haven’t won a game by 12+ points since a November 23 game against the Heat. Add to all of this that the underdogs in each of the last ten games at Wells Fargo Center between the Sixers and Cavs have covered the spread. It’s entirely possible, even likely, that the Cavs cover. 

You can get this one at DraftKings Sportsbook by clicking here.

Sixers Win the First Quarter -4.5 points (+100, Fox Bet)

A big part of the Sixers’ success at home has come due to their ability to get out to a somewhat sizable lead after the first quarter. In their last five home games, the Sixers have won the first quarter by 8, 9, 7, 15, and 7 points. There’s real value here for the Sixers to outscore the Cavs by five points or more after one quarter of play.

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Sixers Win the First Quarter -8.5 points (+235, DraftKings)

If you’re really feeling bullish on the Sixers’ ability to get out to a big lead, fear not. DraftKings Sportsbook has an alternate spread available for the first quarter at excellent value.

You can get this one at DraftKings Sportsbook by clicking here.

Al Horford Over 1.5 Made 3PT (+108, DraftKings)

Al Horford’s been shooting the three with greater regularity over the past month plus. In November, he averaged 1.4 made 3PT on 3.9 attempts. In two games in December, he’s hit an average of three shots from deep on four attempts. He’ll have plenty of opportunities against Cleveland.

You can get this one at DraftKings Sportsbook by clicking here.

Sixers vs. Cavaliers Prediction

Pick: Sixers win, Cavs cover, under total points.