Philadelphia (3-3) at Toronto (3-3)
When: Sunday, May 12th, 2019
Where: Scotiabank Arena,
Toronto, Ontario
Time: 7:00 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Toronto -7/209.5
A date with the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals awaits for either the Philadelphia 76ers or Toronto Raptors as the teams prepare to battle in Game 7 of their semifinal series on Mother’s Day. The Sixers rebounded from a blowout loss in Game 5 by returning the favor in Game 6, but must now go back to a place where they’ve only won once in the last 16 opportunities. If Game 7 experience means something, then the edge goes to the Raptors, whose players have a combined 21 games played compared to nine combined games by 76ers’ players. The first six games of the series have been won by the team with the higher field-goal shooting percentage including the most recent on Thursday when Philadelphia shot 46.1 percent to Toronto’s 43.2. Toronto shot 40 percent (16-for-40) from 3-point range in Game 5 when Kawhi Leonard received strong support from his teammates in a 125-89 win. Toronto shot 48.8 percent overall in that game, while the Sixers shot 25 percent (6-for-24) on 3-pointers and 41.8 percent overall. Leonard still managed 29 points and 12 rebounds Thursday in a game the 76ers led by 21 points in the fourth quarter. With Joel Embiid battling illness and inconsistency and Ben Simmons not producing until Game 6, Jimmy Butler has been the most consistent player on both ends of the floor for Philadelphia. Butler led the team with 25 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals on Thursday. Embiid was assessed a flagrant foul in Game 6 – his third of the postseason – and will be suspended one game if he draws another.
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Simmons put forth his best game of the series on Thursday with 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists and committed no turnovers. Simmons totaled 17 points in the Game 4 and 5 losses and committed five turnovers in Game 5. Embiid also was a big factor in Game 6 after playing so poorly in the previous game. He had 17 points and 12 rebounds with two blocked shots and a +40 rating – tops among any player in the NBA this postseason. Role players also helped out in Game 6, most noticeably Mike Scott, who is 8-of-10 from the floor over the last two games, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range and had a +29 rating in Game 6.
The Raptors shot 25 percent (9-for-36) from 3-point range in Game 6 with Leonard 0-for-4, Marc Gasol 0-for-3, Serge Ibaka 0-for-3 and Danny Green 2-for-8. Toronto has already bounced back from a 2-1 series deficit by winning Games 4 and 5 and knows what it has to do in Game 7. “They are critical games; they are all critical,” coach Nick Nurse said. “We’ve got to play with great physicality, great speed, connected on the defensive end. I think we have to play one of our best defensive games of the year and play with some gusto on offense.” Leonard, who could be playing his last game in a Toronto uniform, has a double-double in each of the last three games and is averaging 33.7 points and 10.2 rebounds in the series.
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We know teams including their role players, play much better at home and that’s what happened in Game 6 back in Philadelphia. Now its Toronto’s turn. Just because Simmons had a great game on Thursday, doesn’t mean he’s back. I don’t see him repeating that performance on the road, in fact, I can see another blowout just like we’ve seen the last two games, including Game 5 in Toronto. I’ll lay the points here.
Pick: Raptors -6
76ers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
76ers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. Eastern Conference.
76ers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. NBA Atlantic.
76ers are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Raptors are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Raptors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Raptors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Raptors are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Raptors are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 Conference Semifinals games.
Under is 5-0 in 76ers last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-0 in 76ers last 5 games following a ATS win.
Under is 4-0 in 76ers last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 9-2 in 76ers last 11 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 4-1 in 76ers last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.
Under is 7-2 in 76ers last 9 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 6-2 in 76ers last 8 overall.
Under is 6-2 in 76ers last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
Under is 6-2 in 76ers last 8 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Under is 5-2 in 76ers last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 14-6 in 76ers last 20 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 11-5 in 76ers last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 4-0 in Raptors last 4 games playing on 2 days rest.
Under is 5-0 in Raptors last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Raptors last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 4-0 in Raptors last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-0-1 in Raptors last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Under is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 9-3 in Raptors last 12 overall.
Under is 6-2 in Raptors last 8 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Under is 8-3 in Raptors last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 8-3 in Raptors last 11 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 Sunday games.
Under is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Home team is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
76ers are 7-16 ATS in the last 23 meetings.
Underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
76ers are 1-6 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Toronto.
