Legal Sports Betting

Sixers vs. Wizards Betting Pick (March 12, 2021)

By Russ Joy

Published: Mar 12th, 2021 · 6:34 PM EST

---

On Friday night, the Philadelphia 76ers are on the road taking on the Washington Wizards. The Sixers enter play at 25-12, which is the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards are 14-21, two games back of the eighth and final seed in the East.

Let’s get into our Sixers-Wizards betting preview, including odds, boosts, and picks.

Sixers vs. Wizards Betting Pick (March 12, 2021)

The Sixers and Wizards will face off for the third time this season, following a 113-107 Sixers win in the season opener and a 141-136 victory on January 6. Tonight’s game, however, represents the first meeting between the teams in the nation’s capital.

The Sixers are coming off a decisive 127-105 road victory over the Chicago Bulls, a game in which neither Joel Embiid nor Ben Simmons played due to the league’s COVID Protocol. In that game, Tobias Harris led the way with 24 points, while Dwight Howard (18), Furkan Korkmaz (16), Tony Bradley (14), Matisse Thybulle (13), Seth Curry (12), and Shake Milton (10) all hit double figures in a well-balanced scoring attack. In fact, the Sixers were so dominant that Harris only played 25 points and gained plenty of rest on the first half of Philadelphia’s back-to-back. While Simmons will remain out for tonight’s game, he’s expected back in the lineup on Sunday. In the meantime, franchise center Joel Embiid is listed as probable to return to the starting lineup this evening.

The Washington Wizards got rocked on the road in their first game back from the All-Star Break, dropping a 127-112 result to the Memphis Grizzlies. The starting backcourt of Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook combined for 41 points, but now Beal is listed as questionable for this critical matchup against the Sixers. Given the talent disparity, one would hope for Washington’s sake Beal can find his way into the lineup.

Get in on the action with FOX Bet here. If you’re in NJ, click here.

 

Sixers vs. Wizards Odds

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

• • Spread: Sixers -4.5, Wizards +4.5
  • Moneyline: Sixers -190, Wizards +160
  • Total: 234.5

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

[metabet_core_odds_compare query=”76ers” size=”300×250″ site_id=”crossingbroad”]

 

Bets We Like With a Sixers Win

FiveThirtyEight gives the Sixers a 57% chance of winning with a -2 point line. Philadelphia’s implied win probability based on the moneyline is higher at 63%.

Sixers to Cover (-4.5) and Over 234.5 Points (+255, DraftKings)

The Sixers were without their two franchise cornerstones Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons last game, yet they went into Chicago and stomped a Bulls team that had been playing well prior to the All-Star Break. Embiid is expected to be back in the lineup for the Sixers tonight, and despite tonight’s game being the first meeting between the teams in Washington, DC, there’s reason to believe Philadelphia will come out victorious by a healthy margin. Philadelphia won by six points in the season opener against the Wizards and by five points in a high-scoring affair in early January. If Bradley Beal can’t go in this one, the margin could be even wider.

As for the over/under, the teams have combined for 220 and 277 total points in their two previous matchups this season. The Sixers have seen the over hit in four consecutive games, with the total going over 234.5 points in two of their last three games. While the Wizards have seen the under hit in two of their last three games, each of those games saw the total points exceed 234.5 points.

Philadelphia should have a relatively easy time extending their winning streak over the Wizards to five games overall.

Get a $1,000 first deposit bonus with DraftKings Sportsbook by clicking here.

 

Bets We Like Independent of Outcome

Sixers to Score 120+ Points (+125, BetMGM)

Philadelphia came out of the All-Star Break with a balanced scoring attack, despite missing their leading scorer Joel Embiid. The 127 points the Sixers hung on the Bulls was the third time in as many games they’d scored at least 127 points. A fresh Embiid, who was forced to miss the All-Star Game and the matchup with the Chicago Bulls, will likely come out looking to make a statement in his first game back since being added to the NBA’s COVID Protocol.

On the flip side, Washington allowed 127 points to the Grizzlies and gave up an absurd 141 points to the Sixers when they faced off in the first week of January. If you’re looking for solid value independent of outcome, this one could be worth a look.

Click here to get a $600 bonus bet  with BetMGM.

 

Danny Green Under 1.5 Assists (+118, DraftKings Sportsbook)

This might seem like a somewhat obscure bet, but the odds and the likelihood of the prop hitting make it a worthwhile consideration. Danny Green is a reliable veteran whose 3-and-D skillset make him a valuable piece on a title contender. However, a court general with a propensity for dropping dimes he is not. Prior to the game against Chicago, Green failed to record two assists in four consecutive games. In fact, he’s dished out fewer than two assists in 13 of his last 16 games. Given Joel Embiid’s expected return to the lineup, we expect the offense to run through Philadelphia’s franchise center, limiting Green’s opportunities for being a direct playmaker.

 

Sixers vs. Wizards Prediction