Phoenix Suns vs Philadelphia 76ers

The Phoenix Suns played in a potential NBA Finals preview on Monday in Milwaukee and won in a thriller. They play in another potential Finals preview on Wednesday at Philadelphia. The NBA odds will depend on the health status of a couple of key 76ers.

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

When: Wednesday, 7 PM ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center
TV: NBA TV
Stream:com, NBA TV app
Radio:com
NBA Odds: TBA (on Philly injuries)

Last Meeting

On Feb. 13, the Suns beat the visiting Sixers 120-111. Devin Booker scored 36 points, and Chris Paul added 18 points and 10 assists. The game was tied 53-all at halftime. Booker took control in the third quarter, when he scored 16 points to give Phoenix an 86-81 lead going into the fourth. Dario Saric and Jae Crowder each hit 3-pointers to open the fourth quarter and extend the Suns’ lead to 92-81 and that was that. Joel Embiid had 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting for the Sixers.

Why Bet on Phoenix? | 2021 NBA Expert Analysis

The Suns won a wild 128-127 OT game in Milwaukee on Monday. Devin Booker missed a shot as time expired in OT and it looked as if the game would go to second OT, but officials determined P.J. Tucker fouled Booker before time expired and put 0.3 seconds on the clock. Booker made the first of two free throws amid a chorus of boos from the Milwaukee crowd. This writer watched that game and it was a terrible, terrible call.

Bookier finished with 24 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. Booker paced the team with a 28 percent usage rate and 24 shots from the field. However, he struggled to convert for the fourth consecutive game, as he’s shot just 31.2 percent in that span.

Former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton had 20 points and 13 rebounds. He reached 40 minutes for only the second time this season and managed 20 points for the fifth time in his last 17 contests. Ayton is averaging 18.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks while shooting 73.6 percent from the field and 76.5 percent from the free-throw line in his last five games.

Chris Paul had 22 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds. Paul’s 13 assists pushed him past Magic Johnson for No. 5 on the NBA’s all-time list. Paul called the moment “surreal” passing an icon like Johnson on the list, saying his plan is to send the ball to Johnson for the Hall of Famer to sign it. Paul now currently sits at 10,145 assists for his career and trails Mark Jackson (10,334) by 189 assists for fourth on the all-time list.

Consider a Booker prop for this game as Booker has scored 30+ points in 7 straight against Philadelphia, averaging 37.6 points on 51.8 FG% with 3.7 3FG per game on 49.1 3FG%. Booker’s 7-game streak scoring 30+ is the longest streak by a Sun against any opponent.

Suns coach Monty Williams was an assistant coach for the Sixers in 2018-19. Williams was coached by Sixers coach Doc Rivers with Orlando from 1999-2002; Williams and Rivers were also briefly teammates, both with New York in 1994-95 and with San Antonio in 1995-96.

Why Bet on Philadelphia? | 2021 NBA Expert Analysis

The Sixers played without their second- and third-best players Monday in Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris and not shockingly were upset at home by red-hot Steph Curry and Golden State, 107-96. In a game that featured seven lead changes and 15 ties, the Sixers and Warriors each led by as many as 12.

MVP candidate Joel Embiid could only do so much by himself as he had 28 points 13, rebounds and eight assists. While Embiid’s 30-point streak came to an end at three games, his double-double streak was extended to three. He is the only player in the NBA to attempt, and make, double-digit free throws per game and is among the top three in free throw percentage among centers. Embiid’s eight assists were the most he’s had in a game since he handed out nine Feb. 17.

Seth Curry returned from a hip injury on Monday had 15 points and five assists. George Hill made his Sixers debut on Monday and hit 1-of-5 shots for two points, two rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 18 minutes. He hadn’t played since January 24 with Oklahoma City due to thumb surgery.

Matisse Thybulle tied his season-high 13 points – leading the bench in scoring – and tied his season-high seven rebounds, plus three steals and a block. He shot 6-for-11 from the field in 31 minutes.

Harris missed his second game in a row with a minor knee injury and Simmons was out with a non-COVID illness. Consider them questionable here, although Simmons is probably more likely to play. Furkan Korkmaz and Mike Scott started in their places. The Sixers shot 39.3% from the field and 37.5% from deep.