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Facing Elimination in Game 6, Sixers Given +560 Odds to Advance to Eastern Conference Finals

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in NBA Basketball

Updated Mar 25, 2020 · 10:10 AM PDT

Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons
With Joel Embiid struggling with illness, the Philadelphia 76ers now sit on the brink elimination in their second-round playoff series with the Toronto Raptors. Photo by Keith Allison (flickr) [CC License].
  • The 76ers are now facing elimination after suffering a lopsided 125-89 loss to the Raptors in Game 5
  • The Sixers have struggled while star center Joel Embiid battles a virus
  • With the Raptors now perched as massive -725 favorites on the NBA series, the best betting value can be found in taking Toronto in the game line odds in Game 6

After being pushed to the brink of elimination from this year’s NBA Playoffs with their most lopsided loss of the 2018-19 campaign, the Philadelphia 76ers have taken a massive tumble on the NBA series prices, where they now sit as lengthy +560 underdogs to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Philadelphia 76ers vs Toronto Raptors NBA Playoff Series Prices

Team Odds
Philadelphia 76ers +300
Toronto Raptors -725

*Odds taken on 05/08/19

Sixers Roll Over in Game 5 Blowout Loss

The Sixers had no answer in the face of a relentless Raptors attack, once again led by Kawhi Leonard. After seizing an early first quarter lead, the 76ers were quickly outpaced by the Raptors, who outscored them by a wide 37-17 margin in the second quarter to take a 64-43 lead into halftime.

Things got no better for the Sixers in the second half, as Toronto maintained its lead in the third quarter before blowing the game wide open in the final frame, on their way to a 125-89 victory as 6-point home favorites.

Unlike Game 5, there was no need for Leonard to carry the team all by himself. However, the former NBA Finals MVP once again set the pace for the Raptors, recording his third double-double of the series with 21 points and 13 rebounds as Toronto seized a 3-2 series lead.

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Embiid’s Health Issues Emerging as Big Storyline of Series

Now facing a dire must-win situation, and with Joel Embiid still reportedly hobbled by a worrisome gastrointestinal ailment and a wonky knee, the 76ers return home for Game 6 facing elimination as 2-point underdogs.

Embiid has been largely ineffective in the past two games as he deals with a virus that has reportedly become an upper respiratory infection.

Health issues have clearly taken their toll on Embiid over the past two games. The Sixers big man enjoyed a breakthrough campaign this season, setting new career highs with 27.5 points and 13.6 rebounds per game this season. However, Embiid has been largely ineffective in the past two games as he deals with a virus that has reportedly become an upper respiratory infection. He averaged just 12 points per game in Philadelphia’s losses in Games 4 and 5.

The supporting cast in Philadelphia has done little to pick up the slack while their star battles ill health. Jimmy Butler emerged as the 76ers’ top scorer in Game 5, draining 22 points, including 10 from the free throw line. He is the only member of the Sixers to score more than 16 points over the past two contests.

Siakam, Lowry Make Major Contributions in Game 6 Rout

Conversely, Leonard has produced as advertised in his first playoff run in Toronto. He carried the Raptors during the early part of the series, scoring at least 33 points in each of the first four games, but received plenty of help in Tuesday’s blow-out victory.

Pascal Siakam led all Raptors shooters with 25 points despite battling a hamstring injury, while Kyle Lowry turned in his strongest performance of the series while scoring 19 points against the team he idolized as a boy growing up in the Philadelphia area.

Raptors Carrying Momentum to Pivotal Game 6 Matchup

With the momentum clearly in their favor, and with a lot to prove following disappointing early playoff exits in each of the past two years, the Raptors make the trip back to Wells Fargo Center comfortably positioned as -725 favorites to eventually eliminate the 76ers, a dramatic improvement over the -260 odds they owned on the NBA series prices following their 101-96 win in Game 4.

The Raptors have produced mixed results in recent trips to the City of Brotherly Love, going 3-4 SU in seven dates at Wells Fargo Center since December 2016. The team has also enjoyed little postseason success in Philadelphia, where they lost three of four while falling to the 76ers in seven games in the second-round of the 2001 NBA Playoffs.

The Raptors have produced mixed results in recent trips to the City of Brotherly Love, going 3-4 in seven dates at Wells Fargo Center since December 2016.

However, with the Raptors largely healthy and in the groove, and the Embiid clearly not up to form, it is hard to resist going with the club on the game line odds in Game 6, where they sit as 2-point chalk. When the Raptors have won, they have won big during a solid 14-5 SU run on the road since January 25th.

Toronto has claimed victory by an average margin of 14.3 points per game in those 14 victories, and offer enormous value as an attractive -130 moneyline favorites to win outright.

Pick: Raptors to win Game 6 (-130) 

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