The Philadelphia 76ers finally look like the team we thought they would be.

Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George are playing together and the Sixers come into Portland on a three-game winning streak.

Now, if they could work on covering the spread that would be the perfect package.

The Sixers are a six-point favorite for Monday’s road clash with the Trailblazers. They will try to cover the spread for just the second time in six games, currently 11-18 ATS, the fifth-worst mark in the NBA. They’re 6-5 ATS in December.

More importantly for Monday night, the Sixers are a favorite of six points or more for the third time this season. They didn’t cover in the first two instances, and in fact, they are 1-6 ATS as a favorite of five or more points.


Portland is viewed so poorly by the oddsmakers that they have only been a favorite twice in 31 games. The Blazers are 16-14 ATS and they are 7-4 ATS as an underdog of six or more points.

The Blazers rank in the bottom 10 in points, rebounds, and assists allowed per game.

So, at least on paper, the Sixers are in great shape to take care of business and keep the winning run going.

If history is any indicator, Embiid could go off in his matchup with Deandre Ayton.

Embiid averages 35.9 points and 14 rebounds per game in head-t0-head matchups with Portland’s big man. Embiid had 35 points, 15 rebounds, and six blocks the last time he faced an Ayton-led Portland team.

In fact, Embiid scored at least 30 points in every matchup he’s had against Ayton and failed to record a double-double just once in those eight battles.

Embiid’s over/under for points sits at 28.5 and his rebound prop sits at over/under 8.5.

The over on the points prop is the better look since Embiid eclipsed the 30-point mark twice in the last four games and had 27 points in another game during that span.

Embiid hasn’t been rebounding that regularly since his return. He’s only averaging 6.3 per game in December and went into double digits just once. That has more to do with Kelly Oubre, Paul George, and Caleb Martin’s additional presences on the glass than it does with Embiid’s actual performance.

Oubre and George’s rebound props are both listed at over/under 5.5, while Martin sits at over/under 4.5.

Portland has the NBA’s fifth-worst field-goal percentage, so there should be plenty of opportunities to attack the glass.

Oubre is averaging 6.7 rebounds per game and has had at least six boards in six games in December. George is averaging 5.4 boards per game in December, but he’s only had seven rebounds in the last two games, while Martin has nine.

You could put George, Oubre, and Martin to all have 4+ rebounds into a Same Game Parlay at FanDuel and have it pay out at even money.

Maxey’s assists is the other prop to look at. He’s had 26 in the last three games and his prop number will only keep going up in the coming weeks.

A combination of Embiid 25+ points, Maxey 6+ assists and 4+ rebounds for George, Oubre, and Martin pays out over +300. That might be the best way to go in a matchup the Sixers should control.

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