Phoenix Continues Tough Road Trip in Philly

Two days after taking down one Eastern Conference power, the red-hot Suns (41-16 SU, 36-21 ATS) set their sights on another when they visit Philadelphia (39-18, 30-25-2) on Wednesday night. The 76ers are 4-8 ATS in their last 12 games and have failed to cover any of their last five at Wells Fargo Center.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Philadelphia opened as a small home underdog, something that’s extremely rare when Joel Embiid is in the lineup. Over the last two seasons, the 76ers are 4-2 SU and 6-0 ATS when catching points at Wells Fargo Center with Embiid on the floor.

Phoenix News & Notes

The Suns got a tough five-game road trip off to a strong start Monday in Milwaukee, beating the Bucks 128-127 in overtime on Devin Booker’s last-second free throw. Phoenix forced the extra session with a 12-2 run late in the fourth quarter, then held Milwaukee scoreless for the first 3:10 of overtime to win the first of five straight road games against top-six teams in the Eastern Conference.

Booker finished with a team-high 24 points while Chris Paul, who passed Magic Johnson for fifth all-time in assists, had 22. Mikal Bridges (21) and Deandre Ayton also cracked the 20-point plateau to help the Suns rebound from Saturday’s baffling 26-point loss at home to the Spurs and win for the 12th time in their last 14 games.

Phoenix is now 14-3 SU and 11-5-1 ATS in its last 17 road games, including four wins as underdogs. The Suns have also scored at least 120 points in seven of their last 11 games, going 8-3 to the OVER during that span.

Philadelphia News & Notes

Despite owning one of the NBA’s best SU records at home this year, the Sixers are suddenly having trouble covering point spreads at Wells Fargo Center. Monday’s 107-96 loss to Golden State dropped Philadelphia to 0-5 ATS in its last five as hosts and 4-8 ATS in its last 12 overall.

The 76ers were without two of their top scorers in Ben Simmons (illness, although it reportedly isn’t COVID-19) and Tobias Harris (knee), both of whom are listed as day to day on Philadelphia’s latest injury report. The Sixers badly missed Simmons’ defense on the perimeter as Steph Curry lit them up for 49 points, including 10 three-pointers.

Joel Embiid led Philly in scoring once again Monday, collecting 28 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, but no other player scored more than 15 as the Sixers went UNDER the total for the seventh time in eight games and ninth in 11. Trade deadline acquisition George Hill made his Philadelphia debut, scoring two points and recording two blocks in his first action since January 24.

Betting Pick: 76ers +1

The Sixers might not be at full strength, but making them a home underdog in this spot seems like an overreaction.