Game Time: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 28th, 2022 

Venue:  Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada 

Where to Watch: NBA TV

DraftKings:  76ers -1.5; O/U 210

Fanduel: 76ers -2; O/U 210.5

BetMGM: 76ers -1.5; O/U 209.5

76ers: 51-31, 4th place Eastern Conference; 3-2 in the series

Raptors: 48-34, 5th place Eastern Conference; 2-3 in the series

An NBA Eastern Conference First Round Playoff Series GAME 6!  There is a lot of tension building in this matchup.  Two games ago it was all but over!  Philadelphia was up 3-0 in the series and Philly fans were scouting parade routes.  The feelings were great, the smiles were big.  Then the Raptors decided that it was still worth the fight… and every game would still get their full effort.  The Raptors refused to roll over and go on vacation.  The Raptors won 2 straight games to push this series from 3-0 to 3-2.  Now the whispers are starting “Is Doc Rivers a way overrated coach?”,  “Is James Harden a shot fighter showing his age?”, “Are Harris, Maxey, and Green capable of having big games at the same time… to take the pressure off the star players?”  

The Philadelphia 76ers are 3-2 in this series while going 3-2 ATS. They have covered when they won and of course lost as favorites twice.  The points spread has shrank as a result.  The Sixers are approaching this game nervously… after all coach Doc Rivers has two other playoff series collapses on the short list of worst ever… Losing this series would make him the all-time champ of playoff series collapses.  In the last loss to the Raptors 103-88…. The Sixers shot like they had never done it before… 38% from the field, 27% from 3, and 80% at the charity stripe.  Telling is how SG James Harden was 4 for 11 from the field, logging only 15 points, 7 asists, and 2 rebounds… WITH 5 TURNOVERS.  This is the same James Harden that expects 250 million on his upcoming 5 year extension!  Harden is starting to look like Russell Westbrook out there… clanking shots, dribbling off his foot, and absolutely “no comment”.   That is a touch too harsh.  Harden’s assist totals have usually been much better than this even when he has had low scoring games.

The Toronto Raptors have carefully navigated away from the quickly approaching waterfall.  Their little boat went from 0-3 to 2-3.  A monster playoff turn around…. That will all mean nothing if they do not survive this elimination game at home.  In the last win, PF Pascal Siakam once again played the hero of Toronto with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists… while providing great help defense on Philly C Joel Embiid.   The Raptors also shot the ball terribly from behind the 3-point line… at only 26%  it was an atrocious 8 of 31.  Their saving grace was shooting 51% from the field as a whole and +3 in rebounding totals.  Those extra few possessions and extra few made baskets tend to add up.  They added up so much that Toronto came off of Philly’s court with a 15 point win. For Toronto each and every win is absolutely necessary to stay alive… helping along the way has been the positive play of OG Anunoby 16 points, Gary Trent Jr 16 points, Precious Achiuwa 17 points, Scottie Barnes 12 pts, 8 rbs, 4 asts… The skill guys are playing so well it has helped them overcome not actually having a true center anywhere on the roster.

Al McMordie is unloading 3 big winners on Thursday for his NBA 3-game package (a mix of sides and totals).  He is currently on a red-hot 39-22 all basketball run! Get Big Al’ picks right now!  Make winning the thing you do from now on!! Stay with BigAl.com throughout the NBA Playoffs and let’s grow that bankroll! You can discover the best  picks right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. NCAAF, NFL, MLB, college football… get positive value from all your bets! Expert picks!  Fun fact… winning a wager is much better than making a wager!

Philly is 54-33 on the season, but 40-45-2 ATS.  They have logged 39 Overs, 45 Unders, and 3 Push.  They are 28-15 in road games.

Toronto is 50-37 on the season, but 49-38 ATS.  They have logged 42 Overs and 45 Unders.  They are 25-18 in home games

The Sixers are 18th in scoring with 109.9 ppg, 29th in rebounds with 42.3 per game, and 8th in AST/TO ratio with 1.9.  On defense they rank 8th while holding opponents to 107.3

Our prediction for Thursday, April 28th is…..  76ers 112 - Raptors 107

The Sixers will win.  All three key Sixers Embiid, Harden, and Maxey are due for a better game than the last two.  It won’t take all three to do it…. Just finally one of em has to put it all together.  Another way to think about it is that the Raptors have used two low shooting Sixers performances to their advantage… but averages get that way because eventually the shooting numbers will pay off.  This game may forever define whether James Harden will be labeled a quitter … He can feel that.  He may actually skip the Toronto strip clubs the night before the game.

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Toronto is 69-45 ATS versus Philly since 1996.

Philly is 12-4 ATS when playing 4 or less games in ten days this season.

Toronto is 23-43 ATS off a win by 15 points or more as an underdog since 1996.

76ers: SG Matisse Thybulle (not vaccinated, can’t even be in the country) Out ** C Charles Bassey (shoulder) Out

Raptors: PG Fred VanVleet (hip flexor) Doubtful

76ers: SF Tobias Harris, PF Danny Green, C Joel Embiid, PG Tyrese Maxey, SG James Harden

Raptors: SF OG Anunoby, PF Pascal Siakam, C Khem Birch, PG Scottie Barnes, SG Gary Trent Jr

76ers: Doc “It’s all on the line” Rivers

Raptors:  Nick “I still have my hat” Nurse