Tonight, the 39-29 Phoenix Suns will host the 38-30 Philadelphia 76ers at the Footprint Center in a battle between a pair of playoff pseudo-contenders. The Sixers will be missing two starters and several role players, while the injury-prone Suns are looking surprisingly healthy. Both clubs scrap to avoid the play-in tournament brackets of their respective conferences.
Curious about top betting odds, how to watch this battle, and what we think will transpire? Read on, dear friends. This could be a good one. Or it could be over in a hurry.
How To Watch
The action will tip off at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET. With ESPN opting to broadcast what should be a very one-sided clash between the Golden State Warriors and the doomed Memphis Grizzlies, this game is only available on local markets or NBA League Pass. Suns fans can tune in on Arizona’s Family 3TV and Arizona’s Family Sports, while Sixers appreciators can check out the fun on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Betting Odds
Gambling aggregator The Action Network considers Phoenix a -8.5 point favorite. Tyrese Maxey’s scoring over/under is set at 29.5 points on FanDuel and 28.5 points on Caesars Sportsbook. His is the top predicted scoring average listed. Suns center Jusuf Nurkic has been given the best odds of nabbing a double-double tonight (+115), but optimists could even bet on reserve Philadelphia guard Kyle Lowry (+3000 odds).
Getty Images/Tim Nwachukwu
Predictions
The Suns have been given a big edge, and rightfully so. The Sixers will be without an unfortunate bevy of players, according to the league’s latest injury report. All-Star center Joel Embiid, a perennial MVP candidate when healthy, has been out for the last month-and-a-half as he continues to recuperate from a left knee meniscus procedure. Another key frontcourt starter, power forward Tobias Harris, is on the shelf with a right ankle sprain. Even their newly-signed backup, former Charlotte Hornets first round draft pick Kai Jones, has been bit by the injury bug. He’s unavailable with a right hamstring strain. Forward Robert Covington is unavailable with a left knee bone bruise, while guard De’Anthony Melton is shelved with a lumbar spine bone stress in his back.
Phoenix, meanwhile, is just missing guard Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) and Josh Okogie (lower abdominal strain). The club boasts a 21-14 home record. The sharpshooting of All-Stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, plus the rebounding ferocity of Jusuf Nurkic against Sixers backups, should give Phoenix the edge. With all these absences, one assumes the Suns should cover the projected game spread.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.