Philadelphia 76ers vs Toronto Raptors Predictions, Picks, Odds, and NBA Basketball Betting Preview – Eastern Conference Playoffs Round 2 Game 7 – May 12 2019
The Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors are depending up a Game 7 to decide which among them will advance to the Western Conference Finals. The young Sixers are exceeding expectations and have nothing to lose which is what makes them so dangerous. The Raptors, meanwhile, need a win not only to extend their playoff life, but also to prevent another disappointing postseason exit for the franchise based north of the border. Going into the game, Toronto is favored by 6-points at the sportsbook, with NBA playoff series pricing working in their favor as well.
Betting on the Philadelphia 76ers (51-31 Regular Season)
The Sixers were not going to let Toronto end the series in six games and send them to an early vacation, as Jimmy Butler and company humbled the Raptors in a 112-101 home win in Game 6. Jimmy Butler paced his team with 25 points on 9-for-18 shooting from the field to go with six rebounds and eight assists. Butler is the most consistent performer in the second round for the Sixers, and his team is going to need him to hold his form in the all-important Game 7 on the road. Butler is averaging 23.0 points in the series and is shooting 45.5 percent from the floor. Embiid, meanwhile, did not look as though he’s back to his usual self, but he did show some improvement from his poor 13-point performance in Game 5. In Game 6, he had 17 points on 5-for-14 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds. A little bit more rest and the hulking Cameroonian big man should have a better showing this coming Sunday. But it’s Ben Simmons, who gave the Sixers the biggest jolt in Game 6, scoring 21 points on 9-for-13 shooting. It was his breakout game of the series, and the Sixers hope that it’s a sign of what’s to come in Game 7 from the LSU product.
The Sixers are 3-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last five road games.
Betting on the Toronto Raptors (58-24 Regular Season)
Despite another productive game for Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam, the Raptors ended up on the losing end in Game 6 – and looked flat for most of the contest. Leonard had a game-high 29 points on 9-for-20 shooting, while Siakam had 21 points on 8-for-16 shooting. The Raptors couldn’t find their rhythm from deep, going just 9-for-36 behind the arc. They also missed 14 of their 17 attempts from distance in the first half. They’ll have home home-court advantage in Game 7, though, which could help get their touch from long range. In Game 5’s 125-89 decimation of the Sixers at home, the Raptors sank 16 of their 40 shots from downtown for a fantastic 40 percent success rate. Defensively, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka should do a better job of clogging the lane and protecting the paint. Embiid and the Sixers dominated in the painted area in Game 6, scoring 56 points in the shaded area to just 42 by Toronto. They will also have to pick up the pieces on the offensive end after combining for just 15 points on 6-for-18 shooting in the last game.
The Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.
