Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers.
NBA Odds: Sixers vs. Cavaliers
| Sixers Odds | -10 |
| Cavaliers Odds | +10 |
| Over/Under | 212.5 |
| Time | Channel | 7 p.m. ET | NBCS-PH |
The Philadelphia 76ers battle the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, looking to avoid a season sweep at the hands of their hosts, who have won the two previous matchups.
Cleveland is currently on a three-game losing streak, so it could actually be happy to see a Philadelphia team it has had some recent success against on the hardwood. The last tilt between these teams was on Feb. 27 in Philadelphia. Collin Sexton went for 28 points in the Cavaliers’ surprising overtime victory.
The Sixers are anxiously awaiting the return of MVP candidate Joel Embiid, who is reportedly coming back for Saturday’s battle with the Minnesota Timberwolves in Philadelphia.
Since Embiid went down on March 13, the Sixers have had the top-ranked defensive rating in the league, per NBA Advanced Stats, holding opponents to an impressive 102.6 points per 100 possessions.
In contrast, the Cavaliers possess the league’s worst offense and, in turn, have had a higher conversion rate on the under, going below the game total in their last five games.
In a matchup of a high-powered defense against a woeful offense, our PRO Report shows sharp bettors are taking the defense to win. Let’s take a look.
NBA Picks: Sixers vs. Cavaliers
Sharp Action
The line for Sixers vs. Cavaliers opened at Sixers -8.5 before it was pushed up to -9.5 ahead of the game. Since this morning, there have been three Action Labs Bet Signals triggered on the Sixers, showcasing the sharp action backing head coach Doc Rivers’ squad.
Big Money
At the time of this writing, the 35% of bettors backing Philadelphia have generated 65% of the money wagered on the contest. That 30% disparity is a surefire sign of wiseguy action backing the Sixers.
PRO Report Pick: Sixers -10