PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* NBA TOTAL OF THE MONTH >> 21-12 Run Last 8 Days!
(NBA) Philadelphia vs. Oklahoma City,
03/22/2017 4:00 PM, Score: 97 - 122
Total: 218.00 | -103.00 Over
Result: Loss
Total: 218.00 | -103.00 Over
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 26-44 Philadelphia 76ers are headed for the lottery once again but while the team has been well-known for its "tanking" strategy to stockpile high draft picks in recent years, the Sixers seem to be taking a different route this season, despite being crippled by injuries. Philly will be in Oklahoma City Wednesday night to take on the 40-30 Thunder, who own the No. 6 seed in the West. OKC is trying to catch the 5th-seeded Clippers (sit two games back) but also has to be careful not to be caught by the 7th-seeded Grizzlies, who are just one game back of the Thunder.
Philadelphia: Injuries have made it a long season for the 76ers, with No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons never 'seeing' the court. Joel Embiid (20.2 & 7.8), after sitting out two years with foot problems, was on pace to win rookie-of-the-year, before having his season cut short (31 games), because of yet another injury setback. However, fellow rookie Dario Saric's bid for ROY continues. Saric is now averaging 12.6 PPG and 6.3 RPG on the season. He will enter tonight's contest looking to score in double digits for the 21st consecutive game!
Oklahoma City: The Thunder got thumped again by the hated-Warriors, this time even though Golden St. was without 'trader' Kevin Durant. Westbrook was just 4 of 16 from the floor in Monday's 111-95 loss, as the Warriors swept the season series 4-0 (all wins by at least 16 points!). In fact, Thompson and Curry combined for 57 points, which was more than OKC's five starters combined to score (53, including only 15 by Westbrook!). That loss ended OKC's five-game winning streak, in which the Thunder had bested opponents by an average of 14.6 PPG.
The pick: The Thunder can't afford losses to teams like Philly on their home court but as Philly head coach Brett Brown notes, his squad has not given up. "I think that they play hard for each other," Brown told NBA.com. "I think that there is an accountability and a responsibility that they feel to one another." NBA coaches can't point to ATS records to make a point but I can. The 76ers enter this contest having covered SEVEN straight games and expect them to make a game of this one, as well. In the end, I favor the total more and will make the Under a 10* play.
Philadelphia: Injuries have made it a long season for the 76ers, with No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons never 'seeing' the court. Joel Embiid (20.2 & 7.8), after sitting out two years with foot problems, was on pace to win rookie-of-the-year, before having his season cut short (31 games), because of yet another injury setback. However, fellow rookie Dario Saric's bid for ROY continues. Saric is now averaging 12.6 PPG and 6.3 RPG on the season. He will enter tonight's contest looking to score in double digits for the 21st consecutive game!
Oklahoma City: The Thunder got thumped again by the hated-Warriors, this time even though Golden St. was without 'trader' Kevin Durant. Westbrook was just 4 of 16 from the floor in Monday's 111-95 loss, as the Warriors swept the season series 4-0 (all wins by at least 16 points!). In fact, Thompson and Curry combined for 57 points, which was more than OKC's five starters combined to score (53, including only 15 by Westbrook!). That loss ended OKC's five-game winning streak, in which the Thunder had bested opponents by an average of 14.6 PPG.
The pick: The Thunder can't afford losses to teams like Philly on their home court but as Philly head coach Brett Brown notes, his squad has not given up. "I think that they play hard for each other," Brown told NBA.com. "I think that there is an accountability and a responsibility that they feel to one another." NBA coaches can't point to ATS records to make a point but I can. The 76ers enter this contest having covered SEVEN straight games and expect them to make a game of this one, as well. In the end, I favor the total more and will make the Under a 10* play.
