Toronto Raptors vs Philadelphia 76ers Predictions, Picks, Odds, and NBA Basketball Betting Preview – Eastern Conference Playoffs Round 2 Game 3 – May 2 2019
The Philadelphia 76ers have managed to tie their series with the Toronto Raptors, 1-1, after two games in Toronto. Now, Ben Simmons and company will fly back home to take their turn in hosting this thrilling series. Will the Sixers get their first taste of the series lead? Or will the Raptors get the lead back? The Sixers and the Raptors are +1600 and +750 to win the NBA title this year, respectively.
Betting on the Toronto Raptors (58-24 Regular Season)
If only Kawhi Leonard could speak… Oh wait, he can. He’s just not going to say it out loud, but he would definitely appreciate it if he’ll get more help from other Toronto players not named Pascal Siakam. Leonard did his best to carry the Raptors in Game 2, as he scored 35 points on 13-for-24 shooting in 42 minutes, albeit in a 94-89 loss at home. Siakam had 21 points, seven, rebounds, three assists, and four steals, while Kyle Lowry had 20 points and five assists. Lowry, however, threw a lot of bricks, shooting just 7-for-17 from the field. Lowry also had a boneheaded play late in Game 2 when he appeared to try to nutmeg Ben Simmons and almost ended up with an embarrassing turnover. The Raptors wasted a golden chance to take a 2-0 lead, especially with Joel Embiid nursing a stomach ailment. Still, with Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka switching assignments on the Sixers’ big man, the Raptors should be able to limit Embiid’s production this coming Thursday.
Toronto is 6-2 against the spread (ATS) in its last eight road games.
Betting on the Philadelphia 76ers (51-31 Regular Season)
It took a big game from Jimmy Butler for the Sixers to finally end a lengthy losing streak on the other side of the border. Butler poured in 30 points on 9-for-22 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds in 43 minutes in the Sixers’ Game 2 win – the team’s first in Toronto since 2012. Butler’s eruption came in very timely, too, as Joel Embiid was not at his 100 percent in Game 1 due to a stomach ailment. Embiid was clearly not in his top form, scoring just 12 points and getting six rebounds with six turnovers in 32 minutes. With an extra day of rest than usual before the next game, Butler and Embiid should have enough time to recover and heal up for Game 3 at home. The Sixers’ bench is also showing how crucial its role is in this series, having outscored Toronto’s second unit in each of the first two games. In Game 3, the Sixers’ relievers had 26 points to just five by the Raptors’ bench.
Philadelphia is 3-1 ATS in its last four home games.
