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The Toronto Raptors shoot for a 2-0 lead in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Unstoppable Kawhi
Kawhi Leonard made a huge statement in Game 1 as he poured in a playoff career-high 45 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Raptors to 108-95 domination of the Sixers. Leonard shot 16-23 from the field and played excellent defense on Ben Simmons on the other end. Pascal Siakam also added 29 points and seven boards while shooting 12-15 from the field and Kyle Lowry had 9 points and 8 assists for the Raptors.
It was all Toronto on both ends in Game 1 as the Raptors made 51.9% of their shots, 33.3% of their three-pointers while distributing 21 assists and committing just 10 total turnovers in the entire ballgame. Toronto won despite only having two players scoring in double-digits and despite their bench unit scoring only 10 points in the game.
76ers
+220
Raptors
-260
Odds from betonline.ag as of 4/29/19
Easy Prey
The Sixers looked like easy prey in Game 1 as the Raptors subdued them with relative ease. Philadelphia shot just 39.3% from the floor and 34.4% from the three ball while also committing 16 turnovers. Joel Embiid shot 5-18 from the floor while Tobias Harris went 6-17 and Jimmy Butler was 4-12 from the field as the Sixers were outscored in every quarter of the game, which says a lot about the effort they put in Game 1. They will need to play a much better game and shoot the ball better is they are going to derail the Raptors in Toronto.
Philadelphia was down by nine points at the half and they could not get their game going, struggling on both ends of the floor. The Sixers allowed the Raptors to score 21 fastbreak points which is too much in the playoffs. They also scored just 95 points in Game 1, the first time in the current postseason that they have been held to under 100 points.
Who Wins?
Philadelphia is 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played. The Sixers are 3-2 SU in their last five games on the road. The Raptors are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games played and Toronto is 4-1 SU in their last five games played at home. Head to head, Toronto is 8-2 SU in their last 10 games against Philadelphia. The Raptors are 10-0 SU in their last 10 games against the Sixers in Toronto.
The Raptors were swept in the second round of the playoffs last season. But this time around, they have opened their round two series with a dominant win over an inexperienced Sixers team that couldn’t make open shots. Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors also forced 16 turnovers and scored 61 first-half points against the Philly defense. It was an excellent effort from the home team on both ends of the court.
The Sixers have not won in Canada since 2012 as they have lost 14 consecutive road games in Toronto. Overall, the Raptors have won 15 out of their last 18 meetings. The Sixers need to speed up the game and make open shots. Ben Simmons must take good care of the ball. I think the Sixers are too high on themselves and now have realized how good Toronto is with Kawhi Leonard. Leonard played like a man on a mission in Game 1. I don’t see the Sixers finding a cure overnight.
I’m picking the Toronto Raptors to beat the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of their second-round series on Monday night.
Other Bets To Make
The Sixers are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played. Philadelphia is 3-2 ATS in their last five road games played. The Raptors are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games played. Toronto is 4-1 ATS in their last five games played at home. Head to head, the Raptors are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games against the Sixers. Toronto is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games against Philadelphia.
76ers
+6.5 (-115)
Raptors
-6.5 (-105)
Odds from betonline.ag as of 4/29/19
The Sixers are 1-5 ATS in their last six conference semifinals games, 3-12 ATS in their last 15 games on the road against Atlantic Division teams and 3-11 ATS in their last 14 games against the Raptors. Toronto is 4-1 ATS in their last five games against the Eastern Conference, 5-1 ATS in their last six home games and 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall. The Raptors are also 25-6 ATS in their last 31 games against the Atlantic Division and 14-4 ATS in their last 18 games against the Sixers. I like the plus money and points for the Sixers but in Game 1, they were outplayed by the Raptors and Philadelphia could not stop Kawhi Leonard. The Sixers are talented but they have not yet grown up in the playoffs. Leonard has too much experience for them to handle. Give me the home team here.
Prediction: Raptors -6.5
The total has gone under in four out of the last six games played by the Sixers. Philadelphia has seen the total go under in three out of their last five games played on the road. The under is 7-2-1 in the last 10 games played by Toronto. The total has gone under in three out of the last five home games played by the Raptors. Head to head, the under is 3-1 in the last four meetings between the Sixers and Raptors.
76ers
O 220.5 -110
Raptors
U 220.5
Odds from betonline.ag as of 4/29/19
The total has gone under in four out of the last six April games played by the Sixers. Philadelphia has played under the total in six out of their last seven road games against opponents with a winning home record. The under is also 5-1 in Toronto’s last six games against the Eastern Conference and the under is 5-2 in their last seven Monday games. The Raptors have seen the total go under in six out of their last seven games played in April. The under is 4-1 in Toronto’s last five games against the Atlantic Division teams and 6-1 in their last seven games overall. Game 1 went under with a combined 203 points while the four out of the five games in Toronto’s first-round series against the Orlando Magic also went under. The Sixers’ best chance to win is to engage Toronto in a high-scoring affair. But save for their Game 1 loss to the Magic, the Raptors have been defensively dominant in this year’s playoffs. I expect them to play the same brand of game in Game 2.
Prediction: Under 220.5
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