by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Jan 22, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
Where to watch: BSSW-SA, NBCSP
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
WynnBet: 76ers -2.5
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: NL
Season record
76ers: 26-19 (6th place, Eastern Conference)
Spurs: 17-29 (13th place, Western Conference)
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76ers - Spurs preview, analysis and prediction
If you are currently tasked with trying to stop Joel Embiid, There is a slight possibility that you will be asked to sign a waiver that says if you are murdered at any point on the basketball court by the Philadelphia 76ers big man, no charges can be brought against said big man.
Embiid is on a tear the likes of which we have not seen from him to this point. And fresh off a 40 point effort in a one point loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, I can only imagine how angry Embiid will be when the 76ers take on the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday in San Antonio.
We may be in weird territory knowing that in Eastern Conference player of the week could be named despite the fact his team has lost the majority of the games they've played this week. But it is very possible given how Embiid has stolen souls with no problem. If you thought Thanos was a major problem, try giving the Sixers All Star the Infinity gauntlet.
Two days prior to the Sixers losing to the Clippers, Embiid dropped 50 points and 12 rebounds in a 13 point victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. As this is being written on the anniversary of Kobe Bryant scoring 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, it is very difficult to look back and see a more efficient 50 point game that occurred in just 27 minutes of play.
"That was easy, quick, efficient and determined," Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said after Embiid’s career night. "He's a little bit of (Hakeem) Olajuwon and a little bit of (Kevin) Garnett. It's a heck of a combination if you can get it. But the difference is he can go out to the 3-point line, which sets him apart. He's Joel Embiid; he's not any of those guys. He's his own guy."
In the big picture, the 76ers have won 10 of their last 13 games and have gone from a 16-16 record to now creeping back toward the top of the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, it helps that the 76ers are going to start playing some teams that are a tad beneath them. Philadelphia, following this game at San Antonio, will be playing nine of their next 11 games at home. That is why I feel that it is imperative for the 76ers to head into this homestand on a positive note.
The spurs are coming into this game as one of the most struggling teams in the league. I have tried to believe in them as much as I can given COVID and injuries, but it is very difficult to trust the spurs right now who have lost ten of their last 13.
The only edge I will give to the Spurs is that their defense and their athleticism at all five positions will give San Antonio a shot. But even the coaching mastery of Gregg Popovich will have a hard time trying to slow down Embiid. Give me the Sixers and another 35-point, 10-rebound performance for the big man. Sixers by 15
Betting trends
The 76ers are 14-11 ATS on the road this season.
The 76ers are 3-4 ATS off a loss by 6 points or less.
The Spurs are 4-8 ATS in January.
Projected starting lineup
76ers:
PG: Tyrese Maxey
SG: Furkan Korkmaz
SF: Isaiah Joe
PF: Tobias Harris
C: Joel Embiid
SF: Isaiah Joe
PF: Tobias Harris
C: Joel Embiid
Spurs:
PG: Dejounte Murray
SG: Derrick White
SF: Doug McDermott
PF: Keldon Johnson
C: Jakob Poeltl
SF: Doug McDermott
PF: Keldon Johnson
C: Jakob Poeltl
Key injuries
76ers: Danny Green (hip, out), Matisse Thybulle (shoulder, out), Seth Curry (day-to-day)
Spurs: None
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
