The Philadelphia 76ers will aim to stop a three-game losing streak when they face the Houston Rockets on Friday evening. Joel Embiid (knee) projects to return for Philadelphia after a one-game injury absence, while James Harden and Russell Westbrook lead the way for a Rockets team that currently leads the Southwest Division.
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET at the Toyota Center. Oddsmakers list the Rockets as 4.5-point home favorites, holding steady from the opener, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 225 in the latest Sixers vs. Rockets odds. Before you make any Rockets vs. Sixers picks or NBA predictions, see what SportsLine's advanced computer model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and last season it returned a whopping $4,280 on its top-rated NBA spread and money line picks. It's already returned almost $1,800 in profit on all its top-rated NBA picks during the 2019-20 season and entered Week 10 on a blistering 23-11 run on all top-rated NBA spread picks. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on 76ers vs. Rockets. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Rockets vs. Sixers:
- 76ers vs. Rockets spread: Houston -4.5
- 76ers vs. Rockets over-under: 225 points
- 76ers vs. Rockets money line: Houston -189, Philadelphia +162
- PHI: The 76ers are 4-2 against the spread in the last 6 games
- HOU: The Rockets are 5-2 against the spread in the last 7 games
Why the 76ers can cover
The model understands that Philadelphia is one of the best teams in the NBA on the defensive end of the floor, and that potency is needed against Harden and company. The Sixers are elite on the defensive glass, closing possessions at an efficient level, and Brett Brown's team also has the length and athleticism to make shots more difficult for their opponents on a regular basis.
On the offensive end, Philadelphia is hit and miss at times, but the Sixers did display a lot of their upside in a recent win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas Day. Embiid leads the way with 23.7 points and 12.4 rebounds per game, but Philadelphia has plenty of firepower, including 19.4 points per game from Tobias Harris and 14.5 points, 8.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds per game from Ben Simmons. The visitors should also be able to generate second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass, and that can be an equalizer against a team with a high-powered offense like the Rockets.
Why the Rockets can cover
The model also knows that Houston is one of the NBA's best offensive teams, putting pressure on the opposition each and every play. The Rockets rank in the top-six of the NBA in free throw rate, effective field goal percentage and overall offensive rating, giving them optimism even against a stout defense like the Sixers.
On the other end of the floor, the Rockets aren't as fantastic, but Mike D'Antoni does have defense-first lineups that he can deploy when needed. Houston is one of the best teams in the league at avoiding fouls and, with the Sixers not prolific in generating free throw attempts, that is a potential advantage for the Rockets to exploit.
How to make 76ers vs. Rockets picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, and it also says one side of the spread hits in over 50 percent of simulations.
So who wins Sixers vs. Rockets? And which side of the spread hits in over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the 76ers vs. Rockets spread you need to jump on Friday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
