The Philadelphia 76ers could use a jolt after dropping three of their last four games and getting center Joel Embiid back may do just that. The Sixers are 4-8 ATS in their last 12 games without the big man in the lineup and will look to use that matchup advantage vs the Indiana Pacers at Wells Fargo Arena.
The Sixers opened as 5.5-point favorites with a total of 221.
STANDOUT STATS
- The Pacers have not fared well on the road recently as they’ve gone 0-3 SU and ATS in their last three away games and the absence of Domantas Sabonis may be a key reason. The Pacers are getting outscored in the paint and only averaging 103 points since he got hurt.
- The Sixers will get Joel Embiid back in the lineup after going 5-7 SU and 4-8 ATS in 12 games without him. They're ranked fifth in points per game in the NBA with him in the lineup.
- The Pacers rank fifth in opponent scoring in road games by limiting teams to 107.7 points per game and are second in forced turnovers (16.5 per game).
- The Pacers loss to the Bucks may have been an anomaly as Indiana is 10-5 SU in 15 games since February 1st and the loss to the Bucks was the only one by double-digits.
- The total has gone UNDER in six of the Pacers’ last eight games on the road (avg. combined score: 209.43).
My Best Bet for Pacers vs Sixers
Sixers -5.5
I think the Sixers and Joel Embiid dominate this matchup because the Sixers are better on both sides of the floor with the seven-footer down low. Statistically, Philly scores more points and plays better defense with Embiid on the floor and while that seems obvious, the Sixers also own a +9.2-point differential in home games that he plays in. I’m not saying that I’m dismissing the Pacers chances to keep this game close but Embiid is a legit difference maker and should help to regroup a Sixers squad that is vying for playoff positioning.
