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The marquee game around the NBA on Friday is a potential NBA Finals preview as Kawhi Leonard (assuming he plays) and the Los Angeles Clippers visit Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. The Clips aren’t underdogs often but will be on the NBA odds for this national TV matchup.

How to Bet Clippers at 76ers NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, 7 PM ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN app
Radio:com
NBA Odds: TBA (depends on Clippers injuries but Sixers will be favored)

Last Meeting

On March 27, the Clippers beat the visiting 76ers 122-112 – that was L.A.’s first game against former Clippers coach Doc Rivers, now in the same role with Philadelphia. Kawhi Leonard had 28 points, Paul George 24 and Terance Mann 23. Los Angeles led by five at halftime, but took command with seven straight points to open the third quarter. Tobias Harris scored 29 points for the Sixers. Ben Simmons had 15 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Philly star Joel Embiid was out injured.

Why Bet on LA Clippers? | 2021 NBA Expert Analysis

The Clippers basically punted on Wednesday’s game in Detroit by sitting both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George – plus the injured Patrick Beverley and Serge Ibaka – yet L.A. won its seventh in a row regardless, 100-98. The Clippers rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter and won it on a jumper by former Piston Reggie Jackson with 2.3 seconds left. Killian Hayes missed a 3-pointer at the other end.

Jackson, starting for Beverley, had 29 points and six rebounds in 37 minutes. Beverley could be out for three or four more weeks, so the starting point guard job is Jackson’s to lose. Jackson had scored just six points in his previous game with a single made field goal. However, Jackson has been taking advantage of the opportunity as he has posted four double-digit scoring performances over his last six games, including three contests with 20 or more points in that span.

Another former Piston, Luke Kennard tied his career-high of 10 rebounds in the win, adding 17 points a team-high 39 minutes. It was just Kennard’s third double-double of his career. Kennard has started four games in a row with the recent absences of Leonard (foot) and/or George (rest), and he has taken advantage of the extra playing time since he’s posted 10 or more points in three games in a row.

Ivica Zubac added 18 points and 13 rebounds. Zubac has recorded two double-doubles over his last four appearances and has scored in double digits in 12 of his last 17 games since moving to the starting lineup, a span in which he’s recorded five double-doubles as well. With Ibaka (back) ruled out for the next few games, Zubac will see most of the playing time at center.

The Clippers are 22-1 this season when scoring at least 120 points and 10-0 when holding their opponent to less than 100 points. LAC is tied for first in the NBA in most 20+ point wins (11).

George should play Friday and we think Leonard will, too, but monitor that.

Why Bet on Philadelphia? | 2021 NBA Expert Analysis

The Sixers took over sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with their third straight win Wednesday, 123-117 over short-handed Brooklyn. The Sixers improved to 21-5 at home. Philly got the win tonight despite going 0-of-8 from the field over the final eight minutes of play, something that hadn’t happened in the NBA since January of 2019.

“I think they’re comfortable at home,” Philly coach Doc Rivers said. “Young teams typically are comfortable at home. I guess the surprise this year is (the record) without the fans. I certainly can understand with the fans.”

MVP candidate Joel Embiid was marvelous with Joel Embiid 39 points and 13 rebounds. He had 21 points at the half, which was the 14th time he’s had a 20-point-half this season, and he leads the league in that statistic. Embiid has posted consecutive 30-point performances for the first time since doing so in four straight games from Feb. 11 to Feb. 19.

Tobias Harris had 26 points, five rebounds and three assists. He finished 11-of-17 from the field and 2-of-2 from the stripe. Rivers did say he held him out of the end of the game as Brooklyn was mounting a comeback because he saw that Harris was “limping around,” so there’s a chance he’ll need to miss Friday’s game.

Harris said he’s dealing with an ache in his knee, which is what caused the “limping” Rivers noticed in the fourth. Says he was 50/50 for playing Wednesday’s game, and has to manage it day-to-day for the time being. Backup center Dwight Howard was out with a minor injury and could play Friday.

In the 19 games since the All-Star break, the Sixers are 14-5 and their bench has played a key role as it ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring this season overall at 41.4 points per game. Shake Milton led the group with 15 points on Wednesday.