76ers vs. Pacers Betting Preview
The Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers make their NBA restart debuts on Saturday. Philadelphia is considered a legitimate title contender, with the betting odds at many sportsbooks showing the Sixers as the team with the sixth-best odds to win the NBA championship.
Both teams have clinched a playoff spot, both finishing 39-26 during the regular season. Indiana is currently the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference and the Sixers are the No. 6 seed due to tiebreaker.
Taking a look at the Sixers vs. Pacers odds, the 76ers are favored. Even though the Pacers are officially higher in the standings, as we said above, many consider the Sixers to be a legitimate title contender. Philadelphia’s roster is bursting with talent.
To compare Sixers vs. Pacers odds across various sportsbooks, as well as other games from around the NBA, be sure to take a look at our odds comparison tool. If you’re a sports bettor who isn’t line shopping, you could be costing yourself money. The odds comparison tool is a great way to shop the best Lakers vs. Clippers lines.
Embiid Healthy, Oladipo Opts Back In
The 76ers enter the game relatively healthy. Joel Embiid is expected to play (calf) despite missing all three exhibition games. Embiid also did not play in either of the Sixers two losses to Indiana this season.
It’s both good and bad news on the health front for the Pacers. Indiana will be without All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis as he battles a plantar fasciitis injury.
The Pacers are likely to get two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo back. Oladipo originally planned to sit out the restart, but he has changed his mind. He played in all three scrimmages over the past week. Oladipo returned in January after missing last season with a ruptured quad tendon.
Without Sabonis, Oladipo would be counted on to ease the scoring burden on teammates T.J. Warren and Malcom Brogdon to beat the odds and pull the upset in this game.
Statistically, these teams are extremely tight in multiple categories. Both teams play at a slower pace, with Philadelphia 19th (101.0) and Indiana 23rd (100.8), but the actual difference is minimal. With both teams playing slow, expect the game total to remain one of the lowest totals of all the restart games. Offensively, both teams are statistically even in efficiency.
The Sixers have already clinched a playoff spot, so this game is important for seeding purposes only.
Philadelphia is expected to get a boost on both ends with the return of Joel Embiid. Embiid did not play in either of the Sixers two losses to Indiana this season. Philadelphia has also tweaked its offense. The Sixers have been using Shake Milton at point guard and Ben Simmons at power forward during practices in the bubble.
The Pacers won two of the three games played between the two teams during the regular season.