The Philadelphia 76ers are gearing up for a spirited battle with the Brooklyn Nets for top spot in the Eastern Conference, which makes Friday’s game in New Orleans a pivotal one. The 76ers (35-16 SU, 28-20-3 ATS) have made a killing against weaker opponents this season and find themselves in that situation Friday against the reeling Pelicans (22-29 SU, 23-28 ATS).
- Date/Time: April 9, 8 p.m. ET
- Arena: Smoothie King Arena
- TV Coverage: NBCSP, BSNO
- Sportsbook Odds: 76ers -7.5 | O/U 225.5 (Line History)
- 76ers vs Pelicans Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Both the betting line and total have seen significant movement since these odds opened. The 76ers kicked things off as a 7.5-point favorite but are now listed at -6 in the majority of spots. The total has shifted upward between 2.5 and 3 points from 225.5.
Philadelphia News & Notes
The 76ers have done most of their damage against the league’s weaker clubs, entering Friday with a 22-4 SU mark vs teams below .500 while going just 13-12 against teams with winning records. That doesn’t bode well at all for Philadelphia, which will play six of its next nine games against clubs above .500 (including a game against the rival Nets).
Friday’s matchup will feature two of the best young big men in the game and the Sixers have to like their chances behind towering center Joel Embiid, who is coming off a 35-point explosion in a 106-96 win over Boston last time out. Embiid had a whopping 20 free-throw attempts in that one, but he shouldn’t expect a similar outcome against New Orleans with the Pels allowing just 20.5 total attempts per game.
New Orleans News & Notes
The Pelicans are slowly returning to full health after a litany of injuries that had them playing without guard Lonzo Ball, forwards Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson and center Steven Adams.
Ingram and Ball are both considered questionable for Friday’s encounter, but key bench pieces Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ankle) and Josh Hart (thumb) remain out indefinitely.
Williamson certainly won’t be able to hang with the taller Embiid on the boards, but he’ll more than make up for that deficiency with his shooting. Williamson ranks ninth in the NBA in scoring average (26.3 ppg) and is fifth among qualified players in shooting efficiency (62.0 percent). He’s also tied for second in the league in free-throw attempts per game (8.6).
Betting Pick: OVER 228.5 (-110)
The Pelicans have been an OVER magnet at home this season, and we see no reason why that won’t continue Friday as the Sixers look to keep pace with the Nets atop the East standings.
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Buy Sports Picks Now- Philadelphia is 2-4 ATS in its past 6 games.
- New Orleans is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games.
- The OVER is 12-4 in the Pelicans’ past 16 home games.
