Game Time: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, December 28th, 2021 

Venue:  Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada

Where to Watch:  NBA League Pass

DraftKings:  Spread: NL 

BetMGM:  Spread:  NL

VegasInsider:  Spread:  NL

76ers: 17-16, 6th place Eastern Conference

Raptors: 14-16, 11th place Eastern Conference

The 76ers are getting healthy.  Several players that were on the Covid list because of the Omicron variant tearing through the league are testing back in. Pretty soon they will only be missing Ben Simmons… and they always will be missing Ben Simmons.  All the Sixers not named Ben Simmons have been showing up to work and playing well.  Sure, they have lost Joel Embiid a few games to injury and Tyrese Maxey and Seth Curry had to sit out with Covid… but soon everyone not throwing a tantrum will be back in the fold.  They absolutely did not want to get stuck in 6th place in the East this year, but it will do until resolution on the Ben Simmons situation comes to pass.  They just need to keep winning.  They are 5-5 over their last ten games, so they will need to keep winning at a slightly better pace, still they are winning.

The Raptors have tumbled down the standings since the Championship they won 3 seasons ago.  They have moved off of every veteran player the squad had during that run… Gasol, Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka.. Etc.  And focused on GM Masai Ujiri’s strength: finding great young players to rebuild with.  The job isn’t done so the winning isn’t happening. The good news is Mr Ujiri has already found the future Raptors star worth building around:  Rookie Scottie Barnes!  Scottie is listed as a small forward but has the skills to play almost anywhere on the floor.  He is a legitimate ROY with 15.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.4 apg… and 1 steal, 1 block.  Those are great stats for a 20-yr old 35% of the way through his first NBA season. Check his stats when he is 23.. I bet they are max contract worthy.  The Raptors are also 5-5 over their last ten games… except with the Raptors that is a good mark to shoot for.

Al McMordie took it on the chin on Christmas, as his hot streak came to an end, so he looks to bounce back on Sunday. Today, Big Al's unloading in the NBA on this High Roller Winner out of a 73% ATS angle. Don't miss out on the hardwood $$$$. Hop on board right now!. Go get it! Get Big Al’s picks right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. NCAAF, NFL, MLB… get positive value from all your bets! Expert picks!  Fun fact… winning a wager is much better than making a wager!

The Sixers are 17-16 on the season, but 14-18-1 ATS.  They have logged 12 Overs, 19 Unders, and 1 Push.  They are 11-8 in road games. 

The Raptors are 14-16 on the season and 14-16 ATS.  They have notched 17 Overs and 13 Unders.  They are 7-9 in home games.

The grind it out style of the Sixers, who run their offense through Joel Embiid in the post mostly has resulted in slow games.  They are 24th in the NBA in points scored with 105.7, 15th in FG%, 17th in 3PT%... a fantastic side effect of Ben Simmons pouting elsewhere is the Sixers are now #1 in FT% with 82.1%

The Raptors are 21st in points scored with 106.1, 19th in rebounds with 44.4, 15th in AST/TO ratio with 1.7.  Shooting is a problem in Toronto:  24th in FG%, 21st in 3PT%, and 21st in FT%.  They are young and athletic and will need to find some skilled shooters to add to both the first and second unit.

 

Our prediction for Tuesday, December 28th is…. Philly 109 - Raptors 91

The Sixers at mostly healthy should handle the Raptors.  We have to hold our breath on who will test positive Tuesday morning… but we are getting to the point where most everyone who plays in the NBA has gotten it… if the virus does give you some natural immunity after you recover… the whole league will be immune soon.

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Toronto is 3-1 ATS versus Philly at Toronto over the last 3 seasons.

All 4 of these games in Toronto went UNDER.

Sixers: SG Danny Green (covid) Out ** PG Shake Milton (covid) Quest ** C Andre Drummond (covid) Quest ** Ben Simmons (hold-out) Out indefinitely… should be traded even if the Sixers don’t get what they think is full value.

Raptors: 10 players are on the Covid list waiting to test back in… Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Precious Anchiuwa… etc etc.  Some won’t make it back for game time.

Sixers: PF Tobias Harris, SF Matisse Thybulle, C Joel Embiid, PG Tyrese Maxey, PG Seth Curry

Raptors: PF DJ Wilson, SF Yuta Watanabe, C Chris Boucher, SG Svi Mykhailiuk, PG Dalano Banton

Sixers

Points: Joel Embiid 25.5

Assists: Tyrese Maxey 4.6

Rebounds: Joel Embiid 10.9

Steals: Matisse Thybulle 1.8

Blocks: Joel Embiid 1.5

Raptors

Points: Fred VanVleet 20.1

Assists: Fred VanVleet 6.7

Rebounds: Scottie Barnes 8.3

Steals: D.J. Wilson 4.0

Blocks: D.J. Wilson 1.0

Sixers:  Doc Rivers.  Veteran NBA coach, one championship ring for coaching.

Raptors: Nick Nurse. Young NBA coach, one championship ring for coaching.