The Philadelphia 76ers might be newcomers to the playoffs, but they looked like old pros in their first foray on Saturday. The 76ers blew out the No. 6 seed Miami Heat to take an early lead in their first round series and will aim to take a two-game lead when the teams meet once again in Philadelphia early next week.
Miami led the first game after one quarter but was outclassed the rest of the way. The 76ers have now won an incredible 17 games in a row and do not seem fazed in the slightest by the bright lights of the postseason. The Heat will be a sizable underdog in Game 2 but would love to somehow pull the upset to even this series at one game apiece.
If the 76ers take care of business it will be hard to imagine a way for the Heat to win this series. Philadelphia is expected to capture this game in NBA basketball wagering.
Game 2 of this NBA Playoff Series is on Monday, April 16, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The contest will be nationally televised on TNT.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
Odds Analysis
The 76ers have been tabbed a 7.5-point favorite in Game 2 after easily covering a similar spread in the opening matchup. Philly used a dominant second half and cruised to a 130-103 victory. About four-fifths of the early action is on the 76ers to cover after such an impressive opener.
The scoring total is listed at 215.5 points, and if Philadelphia continues to put up huge scoring numbers, the “over” will be a popular pick once again. The 76ers are the -340 favorites on the moneyline while Miami checks in as the +274 underdogs. The Heat is the more popular choice to win straight up because of the lucrative payout.
Injury Report
76ers center Joel Embiid missed Game 1 as he makes his way back from an orbital fracture and a concussion but he may be available as early as this one. That would be a huge boost for Philadelphia, as Embiid is averaging 22.9 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game on the season.
The return of Embiid would make Philadelphia bigger favorites in Game 2, so it is imperative to check on his status before the contest begins. It’s possible Embiid could be rusty and on a minutes restriction when he returns, but he is a great talent and would undoubtedly make his impact on the game.
He is a low post threat so the long layoff doesn’t figure to impact his shooting percentage too much. Embiid’s
Player To Watch
Markelle Fultz -- It has been a strange season for the Philadelphia rookie, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Fultz injured his shoulder early on and then his shooting form got all out of whack. He returned late in the year and still doesn’t take a lot of outside shots but he is hoping to find a way to be a difference-maker.
Fultz showed his potential late in the regular season when he rolled up 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double against the Bucks. Fultz had five points, four rebounds and two steals in 14 minutes in the first game of the series.
Ben Simmons and Embiid are the two best players on the 76ers, but Fultz could be an X-Factor. He has a ton of talent and even though he doesn’t play heavy minutes, 15-20 effective ones could have a huge impact on the contest.
Free NBA ATS Picks
Three Heat starters finished in single-digits in the first game and Miami may not have the firepower to hang with the 76ers. Philadelphia started Game 1 slowly, which gave its critics some ammunition about the inexperience being hard to overcome, but the 76ers returned to their dominant ways in the final three quarters.
Philadelphia is looking like a team that is not only going to win this round but could be a player in the East in these playoffs. The 76ers should not only win Game 2 but they are the choice to cover the spread as well.
Philadelphia will push its winning streak to 18 games by knocking off the Heat easily in NBA basketball betting lines.
NBA ATS Pick: 76ers 112, Heat 101
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