Monday’s sports schedule is sparse, but heavy on hoops. The NBA game with the most potential for intrigue is 76ers vs. Clippers.
The Sixers are riding a three-game win streak ahead of a five-game road trip that starts in Inglewood at the Intuit Dome. They are sixth in the East standings and tied in the loss column with the Raptors and Cavaliers who are sitting in fifth and fourth place, respectively.
The Clippers have been the best team in the league since late December and are 3.5 games behind the eighth-place Warriors in the West standings.
76ers vs. Clippers odds, prediction
There will be some uncertainty leading up to this game. The Clippers played Sunday night against the Suns in Phoenix, so it’s the second leg of a back-to-back for L.A. James Harden didn’t play last night, but Kawhi Leonard did.
There’s a decent chance at least one, if not both, will sit out Monday.
On the other side, the 76ers are well-rested after playing Saturday night. We won’t see Paul George, who was suspended 25 games for violating the league’s drug policy, but we should see Joel Embiid, who has been a beast for a while now, on the floor for the Sixers.
Over his past 15 games played, Embiid has averaged 30 points per game and the Sixers are 11-4 in those games. When he doesn’t play, all games that have been either the front or back end of back-to-backs, the Sixers are 0-3.
Tyrese Maxey, who is having a career year, and VJ Edgecombe, who’s rookie season would be award worthy if not for Cooper Flagg, still push the pace and get up the floor with ease. They make this team fun to watch, but healthy Embiid pushes this team into fringe contender status.
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The Clippers’ turnaround has been impressive, but they need Leonard and Harden on the floor to play at their peak. Even if both guys suit up, I like the 76ers in this matchup given Embiid’s size and ability to get to the foul line.
This is also a good trend spot for Philly. The Sixers are 14-6 against the spread on the road this season, which is the best mark in the NBA. I’ll take the 76ers to cover on Monday night.
The Play: 76ers +2.5 (-115, DraftKings)
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Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.
