The fun-to-watch Philadelphia 76ers take their act to the Palace of Auburn Hills, umm, I mean Little Sportsbook Arena, to play the Detroit Pistons. The Sixers open this game as 2.5-point favorites and have gone 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six games against Detroit, with the one loss coming in their first meeting this season on October 23. This is the third time they’ll play each other already this year, with Philly taking a 109-99 victory on November 3.
- The 76ers are 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six games vs the Pistons.
- The Pistons are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in the last four games for both teams.
Bullock and Smith Are Doubtful for Detroit
For a team that already ranks No. 30 in field-goal percentage and No. 28 in three-point percentage, injuries to Reggie Bullock (ankle) and Ish Smith (groin) will undoubtedly make things worse. Smith shoots 41.5 percent from the floor while Bullock contributes just under two three-pointers per game and a 35.1 percent three-point percentage.
But where their loss will be felt the most is as ball distributors. Smith and Bullock are third and fourth respectively with 3.0 and 2.4 assists per game on top of their combined 20 points to the offense. If neither can go, the Pistons will be severely lacking depth at the guard position.
Sixers Have League’s No. 8 Scoring Offense
Philly has won eight of its last 10 games entering tonight’s game in Detroit, scoring an average of 115.9 points in those 10 games – up from its season average of 113.7.
They’ll have to do it tonight without leading scorer Joel Embiid, who continues his career year, averaging 26.3 points per game while playing over 34 minutes a night. However, the seven-footer from Cameroon has just 13.7 points per game over his last three outings and will be rested tonight.
JJ Redick, Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler are all over 15 points per game, spreading the offense around through the starting five. It hasn’t been all flash and dash, though, as Philly is turning up its defensive game by allowing an average of 99.3 points in the past four outings. The defense will need to continue while Redick, Butler and Simmons will need to step up to replace the big man.
My Best Bet for Tonight
I really like the Sixers to cover the -2.5 points and win this game. Not only have the Pistons lost their last two games, but they’ve lost them handily – by 23 points to Milwaukee and 27 points to Oklahoma City.
Detroit shot an atrocious 34.9 percent in its losses to the Bucks and Thunder, scoring less than 20 points in three of the eight quarters and more than 25 points in a quarter just once – in garbage time vs Milwaukee. My advice? Move on this game before the line moves on you.
