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The Sixers are 5-4 in Home Openers Since the Process Era Came to an End
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Sixers home opener tonight. They’re a -3.5 favorite against the Cavaliers, who haven’t played yet.
Let’s take a quick look at recent history, going back to 2017-2018, when they exited the Process era:
- 2017: Celtics 102, Sixers 92
- 2018: Sixers 127, Bulls 108
- 2019: Sixers 107, Celtics 93
- 2020: Sixers 113, Wizards 107
- 2021: Nets 114, Sixers 109
- 2022: Bucks 90, Sixers 88
- 2023: Sixers 126, Blazers 98
- 2024: Bucks 124, Sixers 109
- 2025: Sixers 125, Hornets 121
These have been lower-scoring games historically. In five of those nine, one team didn’t even reach a hundred points. That 2022 game against the Bucks was a total rockfight, with the Sixers shooting 5-24 from three and Wesley Matthews hitting a late one to win it for the Bucks.
Not that this is some revelation, but the Sixers are 5-0 during this stretch when scoring 110 points or more. They’re 0-4 when scoring 110 or less, averaging just 99.5 PPG in those four losses. The Cavaliers were a middle of the pack defensive team last season, allowing 115 points per game. They had some good defensive games in the postseason before choking away Game 1 against the Knicks and getting swept.
Individually, Joel Embiid has played in 8 of these 9 home openers, posting five double-doubles. Tyrese Maxey has scored 25+ in each of the last three. He’s coming off a 28-point effort in Madison Square Garden, so you might look into getting a Kalshi promo code or DraftKings promo code and playing his total. You can get 24+ points at -110 and 25+ points at +112. It’ll be interesting to see how the oddsmakers price out Sixers points this year since they have four guys that could go for 20+ on any given night.
Honestly, playing the moneyline straight up might be the best bet here. It’s -146 at most NJ betting apps and PA sports betting apps. That amounts to a 56% chance at prediction markets like Kalshi, Polymarket, and Novig. Are the Sixers gonna lose at home after going out and beating the defending champs in their own building? Let’s hope not.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com