Both are chasing their first-season victory; the Philadelphia 76ers (0-1) and Toronto Raptors (0-1) square off on Friday. The Sixers have a significant historical advantage over the Raptors, with a seven-game winning run. However, it’s important to note that this winning streak was achieved without key players like Joel Embiid and Paul George. Philadelphia suffered in their opening, conceding 124 points to the Bucks and shooting terribly. Though Tyrese Maxey led with 31 points, efficiency was lacking. They gave up 27 assists and 50 points in the paint defensively.
The Cavaliers blew away the Raptors, scoring 136 points and shooting poorly. Their paint score was only 38 points, and they had 19 turnovers. Chris Boucher led the way with 18 points off the bench; just two starters scored double-figures.
The 76ers will be missing Joel Embiid and Paul George, adding to their challenges. The Raptors, on the other hand, are dealing with a number of ailments, including doubtful RJ Barrett, Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, Dubious Immanuel Quickley, and Ja’Kobe Walter. These challenges make the upcoming game even more unpredictable and engaging.
Both clubs have shown flaws in their season openers, even though the Sixers are on a winning run versus the Raptors. Playing home, the Raptors have the ability to recover and cover the spread. ‘Covering the spread’ in sports betting refers to a team performing better than expected, even if they don’t win the game. With Toronto’s awful shooting and defensive challenges, grabbing the Raptors +4 feels like a good gamble.