Uh-oh. What a difference a game makes. Heading into Game 4, the Philadelphia 76ers had all the momentum.
They were up 3-0 on the Washington Wizards with a chance to sweep. Almost everyone on the roster was playing pretty well.
And everything seemed to be going their way.
But then, the Wizards won a hard-fought Game 4 (122-114). And now, Sixers center Joel Embiid is doubtful for Game 5 with right knee soreness after a hard fall in the last game.
So things are growing a little more tense in Philadelphia. And the fans who never need much help to grow nervous are certainly trending that way.
Philly favored in Game 5 as tension builds
So a victory in Game 5 would be welcome relief for those fans prone to fearing the worst. End it now. Please. Before it gets any closer.
And even with Embiid’s status uncertain, Philadelphia is favored to do just that.
FanDuel Sportsbook has the Sixers as 6.5-point favorites in Game 5 which tips off at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Philadelphia.
Philly is -240 on the moneyline, while Washington is +198. The game’s total is set at 230 points.
Wagers are also available on alternate lines/totals, quarters/halves and the winning margin as well.
Live betting odds will also be posted once the game begins.
The game will be broadcast nationally on NBA TV.
76ers updated playoff game odds
Washington Wizards vs. Philadelphia Sixers Round One Schedule
Sunday, May 23: Sixers 125, Wizards 118
Wednesday, May 26: Sixers 120, Wizards 95
Saturday, May 29: Sixers 132, Wizards 103
Monday, May 31: Wizards 122, Sixers 114
Wednesday, June 2: Wizards vs. Sixers, 7 p.m.
Friday, June 4: Sixers vs. Wizards*
Sunday, June 6: Wizards vs. Sixers*
Washington Wizards vs. Philadelphia 76ers Playoff Betting Preview
Wizards vs. 76ers betting trends from FanDuel
- Washington is 42-31-1 against the spread (ATS) this season.
- Philadelphia is 38-31-3 ATS.
- 37 of Washington’s 74 games this season hit the OVER
- The total has hit the under in 38 of Philadelphia’s 72 games this season.
- Sixers went 28-7 at home this season compared to 20-16 on the road.
- Wizards finished the year strong, going 17-6. The Wizards had a 0.6% chance of making the playoffs on April 6.
- Wizards averaged 116.6 ppg, the third-most in the NBA.
Washington player stats:
- Bradley Beal averaged 31.3 ppg (second-highest in the NBA)
- Russell Westbrook 22 ppg, 11.5 rpg. He led the NBA with highest assists-per-game (11.7).
Philadelphia player stats:
- Joel Embiid averaged 28.5 ppg (fourth-highest in the NBA)
- Ben Simmons 14.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 6.9 apg
Wizards vs. 76ers round 1 series odds
- DraftKings: Wizards (+730)/Sixers (-1250)
- Fox Bet: Wizards (+600)/Sixers (-1000)
Total Games played:
- Over 4.5 (-335)
- Under 4.5 (+235)
- Over 5.5 (+125)
- Under 5.5 (-167)
- Over 6.5 (+400)
- Under 6.5 (-670)
Series Correct Score:
- Sixers win 4-0 (+225)
- Wizards win 4-0 (+8000)
- Sixers win 4-1 (+200)
- Wizards win 4-1 (+4000)
- Sixers win 4-2 (+400)
- Wizards win 4-2 (+1600)
- Sixers win 4-3 (+500)
- Wizards win 4-3 (+2000)
“The Sixers made their bettors money”
Johnny Avello, head of sportsbook and gaming operations at DraftKings, shared some insights about betting on the Philadelphia Sixers.
“You could have had them (the Sixers) at 20-1, 30-1. Some bettors thought Doc Rivers would pull them together and he has. Now it’s time to show if they can win it. I think it’s between the Nets, Sixers and Bucks in the East. I wouldn’t count the Bucks out.”
Betting interest on Sixers during the regular season
“We needed whoever they were playing against as the season went on. That tells you right there what the betting interest on the Sixers was. They had a very good season. At home they were great, on the road not as good. Finished the season strong. They made their bettors money this year. It was a successful year for the Sixers and the bettors who wagered on them.”
Teams attempted a record number of three-pointers (34.6 per game) for the tenth straight season. During the 2021 NBA season, they tied the record for three-point shooting percentage (36.7%).
What are your thoughts on the 3-point explosion?
“Teams have relied on that. Maybe it’s time to see if it (the 3-point line) needs to be backed up a bit. Maybe it means changing dimensions of the court, too. It’s a shot that is very makeable for players. If no one is guarding them it’s automatic.”
The Sixers’ home, the Wells Fargo Center, will increase capacity to 50% on May 22. Will that have an impact?
“I think it will. It increases home court advantage. The fans make the difference in creating a superior home court advantage in basketball.”
Sixers 2021 NBA Championship and Eastern Conference Odds
Currently, the Brooklyn Nets (+220) and the Los Angeles Lakers (+460) are the favorites to win the 2021 NBA Championship.
Philadelphia Sixers NBA Championship odds at some PA online sportsbooks
Philadelphia 76ers Eastern Conference Odds
- FanDuel: +270
- DraftKings: +300
- BetMGM: +300
- BetRivers: +300
NBA Finals MVP Odds
Before the 2021 NBA Playoffs start, Kevin Durant (+420) and LeBron James (+550) have the best odds at FanDuel to be named Finals MVP.
Sixers NBA Finals MVP odds
- Joel Embiid: +900
- Ben Simmons: +12000
- Tobias Harris: +12000
2021 NBA Playoff Betting Preview
The New York Knicks are FanDuel’s biggest liability in the NBA Championship futures market.
“We have $3.5 million exposure on the Knicks,” said John Sheeran, director of trading at FanDuel, who noted the Knicks were +12000 in the Championship market and then +4200 in Eastern conference. “I do think they are dangerous in certain rounds in certain spots and certain teams and potentially matchup against Brooklyn.”
NBA Championship betting splits at DraftKings by handle %:
(Top 5 teams only)
- 38%: Nets (+250)
- 22%: Lakers (+400)
- 11%: Sixers (+650)
- 5%: Nuggets (+3000)
- 5%: Jazz (+700)
Sixers Fox Bet Playoff Betting Promo
Fox Bet is offering a new user promo if the Sixers beat the Wizards in Round 1 and advance.
Bet $1, Get $76 if Sixers win Round 1: New users only, no opt-in required. (Max bet $1. Winnings paid in free bets within 24-hours.) Promo runs from May 22, 10:00 am until tipoff of the final game to close the series.
Sixers Bet Boosts at Fox Bet
- 76ers to win the Eastern Conference boosted from (+275) to +310.
- 76ers to win series 4-0 versus Washington Wizards boosted from (+250) to +350.
Sixers 2021 Regular Season Betting Recap
At Pennsylvania online sportsbooks, the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets opened the season as favorites to win the NBA Championship. A January trade that sent James Harden from the Houston Rockets to the Nets moved the Nets to the second-best odds to claim the NBA title.
The Sixers surpassed their OVER/UNDER win total (42.5) at sports betting apps by putting up an 49-23 record.
- Embiid’s scoring average was listed at 24.5. Finished at 28.5.
76ers 2021 odds tracker
| Preseason | March 2 | Start of NBA Playoffs | Start of round 2 | Prior to Game 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBA Championship | +2500 | +1200 | +650 | +1000 | +600 |
| Eastern Conference | +900 | +550 | +300 | +400 | +350 |
| Atlantic Division | +400 | +150 | n/a | ||
| Embiid MVP | +4000 | +300 | +850 |
