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A potential Finals preview as two elite teams from separate conference face off in Philadelphia as the 76ers host 2 time defending champions Golden State Warriors!
Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia are on a good roll entering this game, they’ve been 7-2 since the Tobias Harris trade and they’ve beaten some good teams like the Nuggets, Lakers, Thunder (who they snapped a 19 game losing streak again). Although 76ers will be without Embiid who they’ve been without since the allstar break, they have been able to hold it down being 3-1 without him in this stretch. New addition Tobias Harris has really fit in well and is playing his best basketball for 76ers right now after back to back 29 and 32 point performances in wins in New Orleans and Oklahoma. Philadelphia this season have been a much better team at home at 24-8 compared to a 16-14 road record and we can anticipate the home crowd to be fired up for this match up. Despite Embiid being out, Sixers still have a very strong squad with Ben Simmons, Redick, Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler all available and will for sure give Warriors a tough game on their home floor. Having lack of bigs with Embiid and Marjanovic out unavailable will be one of the biggest concerns for Philly since they got to deal with DeMarcus Cousins on the other side. 76ers have beaten the Warriors in the first meeting at Oracle this season 113-104 and with a win tonight they’d win the season series 2-0 which is something they definitely would not mind.
Injury Report
Joel Embiid – OUT
Boban Marjanovic – OUT
Furkan Korkmaz – OUT
Shake Milton – OUT
Zhaire Smith – OUT
Justin Patton – OUT
Golden State Warriors
Warriors have been in a bit of a slump entering this game having lost 4 of their last 6 games losing their last 2 on the road in Miami and Orlando. Warriors have had players in and out of the lineup, Cousins and Durant has missed games in this stretch due to rest. However, we can expect both of them to play but there has been a question over Klay Thompson’s availability so the Warriors may not be at full strength again. However, despite their recent struggles, Golden State are still the best team in the West at 43-18 and have the best record at 20-11 on the road. Warriors have been very good at winning tough games on the road this season, they’ve won at Milwaukee, Boston, Denver, Portland, Indiana already this season so winning in Philadelphia would just add to their list of big road wins this season. There really isn’t much else to add about Golden State, expect them to play with urgency tonight on national TV after a few bad games.
Injury Report
Kevin Durant – Expected to Play
Andre Iguodala – Probable to Play
Klay Thompson – Questionable
Damian Jones – OUT
Betting Stats
Totals
76ers have covered 53.1% of their total point overs at home this season (17-15). Total for this game is 237.0 points which is going to be the highest point total in a 76ers home game all season. The closest the total they’ve had to 237 points at home before was 235.5 points against the Pelicans which ended with an over in a 121-120 Sixers win.
Warriors have covered 61.3% of their total point overs away from home in the NBA this season which is in the top 5 this season. Warriors have not had a 237 road total before but the closest they’ve had to that was 236.5 point total at Sacramento which resulted with an over in a 130-125 Warriors win.
Handicaps
76ers have covered exactly 50% of their Handicaps at home this season (16-16). 76ers are tipped as Home underdogs for the first time all season tonight being priced as 5 point underdogs. The closest that they’ve been to being underdogs before was when they had a -1.5 Handicap against Portland in their last home game which they failed to cover losing 115-130. Sixers have failed to cover each of their last 3 Handicaps on their home floor.
Warriors have not been a good Handicap covering team on the road at 45.2% (14-17) this season. Warriors have had a -5 Handicap once before on the road this year which was in their last road game against Orlando which they failed to cover losing the game 103-96. They also had a -4.5 Handicap twice on the road at Detroit which they also failed to cover losing 111-102 and at Denver which they ALSO failed to cover losing that game 100-98. Warriors are not good at being 5 point favourites it seems this season at 0-3.
Recent H2H in Philadelphia
Warriors have dominated the 76ers on the road recently. Warriors have won 5 straight on the road against these opponents.
Most recent meeting in Philadelphia was last season when Warriors beat the Sixers 124-116 in what was a crazy turnaround win as Warriors erased a 23 point deficit after they completely exploded in the 3rd quarter which they won 47-15! Although they lost, 76ers did manage to cover a +9 Handicap by a point while total 233.5 points given resulted with an over as teams totalled 240 points in that match up.
TIP OFF – 3rd March 2019 – 1:30am UK Time
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