Philadelphia (0-0) at Toronto (0-0)
When: Saturday, April 27th, 2019
Where: Scotiabank Arena,
Toronto, Ontario
Time: 7:30 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Toronto -5/224
The second round of the NBA Playoffs will tipoff on Saturday evening as the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series. Both teams took similar paths to get here, losing Game 1 of their first round series as home favorites, but bouncing back to take the next four. The second-seeded Raptors, who dispatched the Orlando Magic in round one, went 3-1 against the 76ers this season as Kawhi Leonard averaged 30.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and four steals in three games. Third-seeded Philadelphia played a physical series with the pesky Brooklyn Nets, but ultimately dominated the series, winning three games by 16 points or more. Philly is seeking to get past the second round for the first time since losing in the 2001 NBA Finals. Toronto has lost in the second round in each of the past two seasons after reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2016 and are 2-14 all-time in Game 1s after dropping their opener to Orlando. The health of key players could go a long way in determining who wins this series. The break inbetween series should help the Sixers more as center Joel Embiid has been in and out of the lineup with a sore knee, and back-up PF Mike Scott is day-to-day with a right heel contusion that he suffered Tuesday in Game 5 versus the Brooklyn Nets. The Raptors are relatively healthy heading into the second round, although PG Kyle Lowry dislocated a finger during Tuesday’s Game 5 win over the Orlando Magic. Lowry popped his finger back into place after the injury and continued to play. Forward OG Anunoby is still recovering from his emergency appendectomy and may not be ready this series.
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Despite the knee issues all season, Embiid averaged 24.8 points and 13.5 rebounds in four games versus the Nets in the first round. He put up averages of 26.3 points and 11.8 rebounds against the Raptors in the regular season, while Ben Simmons committed an average of 6.3 turnovers while recording 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists versus Toronto. Small forward Jimmy Butler averaged 15.8 points in the first round – down from his regular season average of 18.2 – but came up with two steals per game against the Nets. Philadelphia has lost 13 straight games in Toronto dating back to November of 2012.
Leonard scored over 30 points twice against the Sixers during the regular season and averaged 27.8 in the first round against Orlando while hitting 53.8 percent of his three-point attempts. The Raptors have been getting excellent contributions from forward Pascal Siakam, who averaged 22.6 points and 8.4 rebounds in the series against Orlando after averaging just 16.9 points during the regular season. Point guard Kyle Lowry, who was born in Philadelphia and attended nearby Villanova, averaged just 11.4 points in the first round mainly because he was held scoreless on 0-for-7 shooting in the Game 1 loss to the Magic in round one.
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Yes, the Sixers haven’t won in Toronto in over six years, but the Raptors have a history of struggling in Game 1s. Embiid is not 100% but he has been a monster when in the lineup and the extra rest will help him. Philly is motivated after dropping that first game to Brooklyn and will keep this one close – if not win.
Pick: 76ers +6.5
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76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Atlantic.
76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
76ers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Conference Semifinals games.
76ers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Raptors are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games overall.
Raptors are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 vs. Eastern Conference.
Raptors are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Raptors are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win.
Raptors are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 Saturday games.
Raptors are 42-20 ATS in their last 62 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Raptors are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 Conference Semifinals games.
Raptors are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 4-0 in 76ers last 4 Saturday games.
Under is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 7-2 in 76ers last 9 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 10-4 in 76ers last 14 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 10-4 in 76ers last 14 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 9-4 in 76ers last 13 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 11-5 in 76ers last 16 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 13-6 in 76ers last 19 overall.
Under is 5-1 in Raptors last 6 overall.
Under is 5-1-1 in Raptors last 7 games following a straight up win.
Over is 9-2 in Raptors last 11 Conference Semifinals games.
Under is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-1-1 in Raptors last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
Under is 4-1-1 in Raptors last 6 games following a ATS win.
Under is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 10-3 in Raptors last 13 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Over is 8-3 in Raptors last 11 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Favorite is 20-7 ATS in the last 27 meetings.
Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Toronto.
Over is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings.
76ers are 4-13 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
76ers are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings in Toronto.
