Golden State Warriors vs. Philadelphia 76ers Odds, Preview, and Prediction

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Warriors vs. 76ers Odds

Warriors Odds -1.5
76ers Odds +1.5
Over/Under 214.5
Date Saturday, Dec. 11
Time 8:30 p.m. ET
TV ABC

Tonight, the Golden State Warriors and the Philadelphia 76ers will battle at the Wells Fargo Center. Entering play on Saturday, Stephen Curry is 10 made three-pointers away from setting the all-time NBA record for a career. Philadelphia will hope to prevent history from happening on their home court as they attempt to get back in the win column after losing by 22 points to the Utah Jazz on Thursday. Oddsmakers are anticipating a tightly-contested affair in this one, pricing the Warriors as 1.5-point road favorites on the spread at online sportsbooks.

Now, let’s take a closer look at Warriors vs. 76ers odds and make a pick for tonight’s game.

Warriors

Golden State leads the NBA with a +12.9 Net Rating this season through 25 games. They also rank 2nd in the league with a +7.6 Net Rating in nine contests away from home. The Warriors are led by MVP-frontrunner Stephen Curry, who is averaging 27.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game on 41.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole have both been solid contributors on the offensive end of the floor as well, each posting 18.0 points or better per night.

Yet, Golden State’s sensational start to the campaign has been propelled primarily by their strong commitment to getting stops. The Warriors have the best defensive efficiency rating in the NBA this season, allowing only 99.5 points per 100 possessions–nearly five full points better than the Phoenix Suns, who rank 2nd in this metric. Draymond Green is undeniably the anchor of this defense, often taking on the assignment of guarding the other team’s best player. However, Head Coach Steve Kerr has instilled a defensive mindset in each player who takes the floor for this group. As a result, the Warriors give themselves an opportunity to win games even when they do not shoot the ball well.

76ers

Philadelphia started the season strong, winning eight of their first 10 contests. Since that point, the 76ers have lost 10 of their 16 games, with their only semi-impressive victory in that span coming on the road against the Atlanta Hawks last week.

Over their last 10 games, the 76ers rank 20th in the league in Net Rating, having been outscored by 2.6 points per 100 possessions. Philadelphia has remained a relatively strong defensive team in the absence of Ben Simmons, ranking 8th in defensive efficiency across their last seven games. However, they have struggled mightily on the offensive end of the floor of late–scoring only 106.8 points per 100 possessions during that stretch.

Even Philadelphia’s defense is not well-equipped for this matchup against the Warriors. Golden State attempts the third-most three-pointers of any team in the NBA. Philadelphia ranks 20th in the league defending the perimeter this season, which was a problem in their last game as well–allowing the Utah Jazz to hit 15 shots from beyond the arc.

Pick and Prediction

On the season, Golden State is 6-1 when playing with a rest advantage and 4-0 when playing with two or three days of rest. Philadelphia is only 4-5 when playing with a rest disadvantage and 11-8 when playing on one day of rest. The Warriors are better on both ends of the floor and a superior coach. Bettors should seize the opportunity to bet the best team in the NBA at a near pick’em price.

PICK: Warriors -1.5 (-110), available at BetMGM

Image Credit: Imagn

About the Author

nickgalaida
Nick Galaida (nickgalaida)

A failed high school pitcher, Nick Galaida discovered that he has a higher aptitude for analyzing and writing about sports than he does playing them. To his friends, he is better known as “The Commish.” When he’s not organizing a fantasy league, placing a bet, or writing an article, he’s probably nose-deep in a book—further illustrating the point that his niche in this world is as a nerd rather than an athlete. Follow Nick on Twitter – @CommishFilmRoom