On Sunday evening, the Sixers and Trail Blazers meet in a game with real playoff implications. Philadelphia will be without PG/PF Ben Simmons, for the foreseeable future, if not the remainder of their season. He will have surgery to remove a loose body in his left knee. The Trail Blazers enter play 1.5 games back of the final Western Conference playoff spot with just three games to play. Let’s get into our Sixers-Trail Blazers betting preview, including odds, boosts, and picks.

But before we do, FOX Bet has a 76 to 1 odds offer on any Sixers bet in August. Sign up in Pennsylvania here and in New Jersey here.

Preview

The Sixers have four games remaining before the elimination rounds of the NBA postseason. Their current sixth-place standing is the lowest they can finish by virtue of being nine games ahead of the Brooklyn Nets. With a victory and a bit of help, they could jump over the Indiana Pacers and end up in a tough #4 v. #5 matchup against former Sixers Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat.

The Trail Blazers are a team that certainly feels better than their 32-39 record would indicate. Portland has gone 3-2 since they began playing in the Orlando bubble, earning wins over the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies, fourth-place Houston Rockets, and third place Denver Nuggets. They are, however, entering this game fresh off a 122-117 loss to the second-place LA Clippers.

 

Sixers vs. Trail Blazers Odds

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

  • Spread: Sixers +2.5, Trail Blazers -2.5
  • Moneyline: Sixers +125 Trail Blazers -148
  • Total: 229

And here are the current best available odds for the Sixers (may not display on Google AMP pages):

 

Bets We Like With a Sixers Win

FiveThirtyEight gives the Sixers an 64% chance of winning with a -3.5 point line. That stands in stark contrast to the implied win probability, based on the moneyline, of 41.7%.

The 22.7% discrepancy between the projection model and the moneyline’s implied win probability is quite telling, which presents an even larger disparity between the projection model and the oddsmaker’s interpretation, likely due to Ben Simmons’ absence.

Sixers Win and Under 228.5 Total Points (+275, DraftKings)

When these teams met back in November, a 129-128 Sixers win, the teams were missing their men in the middle as Joel Embiid was unavailable for the Sixers and Jusef Nurkic was out for Portland. Fast forward a bit and the big men are back for their respective teams, while the Sixers are down Ben Simmons. The only chance for the Sixers to win this game is by slowing it down, pressing high, making life uncomfortable for Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, and hoping that Portland’s hot shooting goes cold.

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

 

Bets We Like With a Trail Blazers Win

Trail Blazers Win and Over Total Points (+240, DraftKings)

The Trail Blazers have set the Orlando bubble on fire, posting totals of 140, 124, 110, 125, and 122, for an average output of 124.2 points per game. Keep in mind they did that against the likes of The Grizzlies, Celtics, Rockets, Nuggets, and Clippers. Not too shabby. Add to that the fact that eight of the last 10 Sixers games have gone over the total points threshold and the Trail Blazers have won each of ther last six games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents, and you have a recipe for a solid bet.

Trail Blazers Win -2.5 and Over Total Points (+275, DraftKings)

This game feels like it’s got real blowout potential. The Sixers just got the news that they’ll be without Ben Simmons for quite some time and might only get him back if the team makes a deep run in the postseason. They’re arguably slotted into a more favorable matchup against the Celtics. There’s not a ton of incentive or motivation for them to bring their “A” game. The Blazers, conversely, need a win. They’re truly in a situation where winning out is their only realistic chance to vault over the Grizzlies for the eighth seed, unless you think Memphis could lose out. There’s something special about this Portland team, now that they’ve got Jusuf Nurkic back in the fold to man the post with Carmelo Anthony winding back the clock hitting daggers from deep.

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

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Bets We Like Independent of Outcome

 CJ McCollum Over 22.5 Points (+100, DraftKings)

The former Lehigh University standout has acquitted himself well in the Orlando bubble, averaging 19.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. He’s riding high off a 29 point performance against the Clippers, in which he shot 6-of-13 (46.2%) from beyond the arc, and if there’s one area the Sixers have underwhelmed most of the season, it’s perimeter defense. With McCollum having scored 28 or more points in five of Portland’s last seven games against Eastern Conference opponents, take him to score over 22.5 points.

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

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Any Sixers Bet (76 to 1 Odds FOX Bet)

As noted above, FOX Bet is has a wild 76 to 1 odds offer on any Sixers bet this month. Sign up using the links here depending on your state and place your first bet for $1 on any Sixers single game bet (opt-in by selecting “challenges” once you’re signed up). You’ll be credited $76 win or lose.

Sixers vs. Trail Blazers Prediction

Pick: Take CJ McCollum Over 22.5 points and the Trail Blazers’s spread and over 228.5 total points. This one could be over by the third quarter.

Take the Trail Blazers (-3.5) and OVER 228.5 points.