76ers vs. Hawks Pick
With two games remaining, the Philadelphia 76ers have a half-game lead for the third seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Will the Sixers keep a firm grasp on that spot tonight when they play at the lowly Atlanta Hawks?
Game Snapshot & Odds
503 Philadelphia 76ers -9.5 at 504 Atlanta Hawks +9.5; 220
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
7:40PM ET, Phillips Arena
TV: NBCSP (PHIL); FSSE (ATL)
(Odds courtesy of sportsbook YouWager)
Public Betting Trends
As of Tuesday afternoon, 75 percent of public bets are pouring in on the visiting Sixers. Make sure to check out our NBA Public Betting Page for the latest info.
76ers rolling without Embiid
Most people assumed Philadelphia would slip down the standings when it lost star center Joel Embiid for approximately a month due to a facial fracture. Instead, the Sixers have proven they have taken another step in their rise as they have matched a team record with 14 straight wins. It should become 15 in a row tonight with a victory at the Hawks, who they defeated 101-91 six games ago.
With the rest of the team’s confidence soaring, this could perhaps become the team to beat when Embiid returns at some point during the first or second round of the postseason.
Simmons on another level
Philadelphia point guard extraordinaire Ben Simmons, who sat the entirety of the 2016-17 season with a foot injury, did not stay modest when he said he is ‘100 percent this season’s Rookie of the Year. And who can really argue with him? Sure, Utah’s Donovan Mitchell has had a fantastic season of his own and certainly deserves consideration of his own. But the fact of the matter is, Simmons’ numbers across the board make him the easy choice.
Simmons is averaging 16 points, 8.2 assists and 8.1 assists with a PER of 20.23 for a Sixers team that is 50-30 and on a 14-game win streak despite the absence of a superstar player. Count me in among those voting for Simmons (if I had a vote).
NBA Betting Trends
Philadelphia
The Sixers are 4-0 ATS in their last four road games. The under is 4-0 in the last four 76ers games against a team with a winning percentage under .400. Philadelphia is 8-0 ATS in its last eight games following a straight up win by 10 or more points.
Atlanta
The Hawks are 4-0 ATS in their last four games playing on one day of rest. The under is 4-0 in the last four Atlanta games after allowing 100 or more points their previous game. The Hawks are 7-2 ATS in their last nine meetings with the Sixers.
Prediction:
Double digits are usually hard to win by on the road no matter who you are playing, but I think Philadelphia’s drive for a franchise record number of wins in a row plus the third seed will push it through here. Atlanta has been tanking all season and are without a number of key players for this game. The 76ers won by 10 the last time in Atlanta and I’d be surprised if they don’t win by as many or more this time around.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS -9.5