Tipping off across the six-game NBA slate tonight, the Philadelphia 76ers will face off with the Toronto Raptors for the second consecutive night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Let’s take a quick dive into a few player prop bets on consider on DraftKings Sportsbook ahead of this Eastern Conference matchup.
Both these teams have largely exceeded expectations this year in the wider scale of the season. They currently sit in fourth and fifth place in the Eastern Conference with the Raptors holding a 1.5-game advantage.
It was Toronto who got the upper hand last night in a 116-115 overtime victory. In the first half of the back-to-back, both Joel Embiid and Paul George missed the matchup and are each listed as questionable for tonight. These teams also faced off twice already before this. The Sixers produced a 130-120 win on November 8, but the Raptors got revenge in a 121-112 victory 11 days later. This will mark their final matchup of the season.
The Sixers are 3.5-point road favorites, while the Pacers are +130 underdogs on DraftKings Sportsbook with the game total set at 220.5.
76ers vs. Raptors Best Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Scottie Barnes Over 33.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-112)
Freshly off earning NBA Player of the Week honors, there will be plenty on Scottie Barnes’ plate in this matchup. He earned this level of recognition by leading Toronto to a 3-0 record last week when he averaged 22.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists (34.3 PRA). Barnes will continue to headline the production with RJ Barrett sidelined, although Brandon Ingram has been upgraded to questionable with his thumb injury and is a game-time decision.
Looking on the wider scale of the season, Barnes is averaging 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.3 assists (33.1 PRA). He finished last night’s victory with 31 points, which is tied for his second-highest scoring output of the season, along with eight assists and seven rebounds- or 46 combined PRA. The 24-year-old is making a legitimate push for his second All-Star appearance and has tallied over 33.5 combined PRA in four of his last seven games.
Toronto counts on Barnes to do a little of everything, so count on his size and athleticism to make an impact against the Sixers again tonight. His ability to take a rebound and push the pace himself is a staple in the Raptors’ attack, which will continue to come into play tonight. Philadelphia’s guard-dominant rotation has a tough time slowing him and Barnes’ activity produces results against the aging stars on this Sixers’ team. Barnes is playing with the most confidence of his career and Toronto is giving him as many opportunities as he sees fit. Count on him continuing to play in attack mode and tally over 33.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists for the second consecutive night in the friendly matchup against this Sixers team.
Joel Embiid Over 38.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-108)
Joel Embiid remains questionable on the injury report, but this is consistent with the way the Sixers have managed him all year. He was ruled out of last night’s matchup after playing six consecutive games for the first time in nearly two calendar years. Assuming he suits up tonight, he will have officially surpassed the 19 games he played across all of last season.
But beyond just the availability, it is the leap in production that has been most encouraging for the former MVP. On the season overall, Embiid is averaging 23.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists (33.9 PRA). However, across his past 10 games, he has tallied 28.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game (40.2 PRA). Embiid has tallied over 38.5 combined PRA in just five games this season, but four of these have come over this 10-game stretch. He is also now completely off the minutes limit he started the season on, which diluted his stats to an extent.
The Raptors will continue to be without Jakob Poeltl, leaving them without a true center option. This is also a matchup in which Embiid has traditionally had success, scoring 25+ points in each of his last nine matchups against Toronto. Unlike in some of his past seasons, Embiid has also been completely willing to play within the Sixers’ team system. He has shown an increased willingness as a passer and has improved as a playmaker under Nick Nurse. Expect this to be a factor if the Raptors throw double teams in his direction. Embiid has had plenty of success against Toronto in the past, has looked like his old self in recent games, and rested yesterday after suiting up every other day since December 30th. Take advantage while the prop line remains low by his standards and back Embiid to record over 38.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists tonight.
Tyrese Maxey Over 3.5 3PM (+117)
While Embiid and Paul George have battled through their injury and availability issues to start the season, it has been Tyrese Maxey who has continued to level up his game. The one-time All-Star is leading the NBA in minutes per game and averaging 30.9 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds. He is also launching 9.2 three-point attempts per game and is connecting at a 40.2% rate.
Maxey averages 3.7 made three-pointers per game this season and has made over 3.5 perimeter shots in 22 of his 35 games played. While Toronto ranks fourth in the league in opponents’ three-point percentage, they are 16th in three-point attempts allowed. Maxey shot an uncharacteristic 2-for-7 from beyond the three-point arc last night despite scoring 38 points. However, he has tallied over 3.5 made threes in five of the previous seven games.
Expect the picture to look a little different tonight with his max contract teammates expected to join him on the floor. The two-man game between Embiid and Maxey is the foundation of the Sixers’ offense, so expect the star guard to benefit from the attention the big man commands. Count on him brushing off the perimeter shooting struggles and be hungry to lead the team to a win after the missed opportunity last night. Capitalize on the +117 odds and expect Maxey to set the tone as a scorer right from the opening tip.
