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Philadelphia 76ers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Predictions, Betting Odds & Player Props for the Jared McCain Return Game
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Welcome to another evening of Philadelphia 76ers basketball.
The shorthanded Sixers (39-32) are gearing up to host the NBA-best Oklahoma City Thunder (56-15) in what shapes up to be less of a heavyweight bout and more of a crime scene. With Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Paul George all in street clothes, the hometown squad is trotting out a rotation that looks like a Summer League unit against a surging juggernaut riding a terrifying 11-game winning streak. Not just that, but it’s the return of Jared McCain, who has been playing some great basketball since the Sixers surprisingly traded him in February.
76ers vs. Thunder Odds
- Point Spread: 76ers +15.5 (-108), Thunder -15.5 (-111)
- Moneyline: 76ers +694, Thunder -1099
- Total: O/U 224.5 Points
Odds are sourced from consensus sportsbooks as of March 23rd.
76ers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Predictions and Spread Pick
If you enjoy watching a good old-fashioned trainwreck on Broad Street, this matchup might just be the highlight of your week. Oddsmakers have absolutely zero faith in the home team, and honestly, can you blame them?
The Pick: Thunder -15.5 (-111)
Sure, swallowing a 15.5-point spread feels like a wildly irresponsible financial decision, but the situational trends are screaming at us. The Sixers are an abysmal 13.3% (2-13) straight up at home against opponents with a winning record over their last 15 games. Worse, they are covering the spread at a16.6% clip (1-5 ATS) at home against top-tier defenses over their last six contests. Taking the vig-free probabilities into account, the market gives the visitors an 87.9% chance of winning outright, and we see the blowout potential as highly likely.
Oklahoma City gets up and down the court efficiently and grabs 49.6% of available rebounds on the road. Expect Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to effortlessly slice through the defense.
Philadelphia 76ers Player Prop Picks and Predictions
Quentin Grimes Under 19.5 Points
Grimes is carrying a questionable – illness designation into the game.
Taking a quick glance at the season statistics, he’s managed to score 903 points across 65 games, averaging roughly 13.9 points per night. Yes, he has been heavily relied upon for scoring recently out of sheer necessity, but asking him to magically morph into prime Allen Iverson against a surging Thunder squad is tough. They boast a suffocating halfcourt defense. Unless the opposition collectively decides to take the night off and grab a roast pork sandwich from Dinic’s, asking Grimes to suddenly produce an offensive explosion of that magnitude against elite perimeter length is just wishful thinking.
Jared McCain Over 14.5 Points
We cannot talk about this matchup without addressing the elephant in the room: the Jared McCain return game. Traded away at the February deadline, the former Sixers guard returns to the city that drafted him, and he is absolutely thriving on his current road trip. The kid knows the defensive schemes, he knows the shooting sightlines in this building, and you better believe he wants to drop a casual 20-piece on the front office that shipped him out. With the home squad deploying a porous rotation of backup guards, McCain is going to get up and down the court and hunt his shot all night. Take your pick of PA betting promos or NJ sportsbook promos and back the over.