The NBA season is virtually at its halfway point as we hit the middle of January. That’s important for bettors to note. We’re officially past the point of wait and see with most teams across the league.
We know which teams are competitive and which ones aren’t. Two of the top-five teams in the Eastern Conference standings, the Raptors and 76ers, are significantly better than expected based on preseason priors.
The two division rivals are playing the second game of a back-to-back, and every win is important as they each look to keep their top-six spot in the conference.
76ers vs. Raptors odds, prediction
The 76ers are undoubtedly a fun team to watch, but all signs are pointing to them being much more than that. Early in the season, watching Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, aka VJ Max, run up and down the floor for 40 minutes was so entertaining that wins were almost beside the point. It was just great seeing a young and fun Sixers team.
Then Embiid returned, and the team had an adjustment period to figure out how to incorporate the former MVP. Things were still a bit uneven through the middle of December. Since the beginning of January, though, things have looked much more stable. The Sixers have won four of their five games over this stretch, outscoring teams by 11.2 points per 100 possessions.
Embiid still sits when he needs to rest his weary knees, but appears to be regaining the confidence that made him a perennial All-NBA player.
The Raptors have also fought through injuries this season. RJ Barrett missed a month with a knee injury and wasn’t able to play Sunday. His connectivity has been vital to the fluidity of the team’s offense.
Jakob Poeltl has been in and out of the lineup with a back injury, which has made the Raptors a middle-of-the-road rebounding team. Defensively, the Raptors remain near the top of the league despite lacking a true big man.
But that defense will have its hands full trying to stop Maxey, who is relentless when driving to the basket and has been one of the best above-the-break 3-point shooters in the league this season.
Betting on the NBA?
Lastly, this has been a favorable spot for the 76ers all season long. They have more road wins than home wins this season and have the best cover rate against the spread in road games this season. On the second night of back-to-backs, the Sixers are 6-0 ATS.
I like the 76ers to cover Monday night and continue their ascent up the standings.
The Pick: 76ers to cover the spread (-3.5, BetRivers)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
