James Harden, Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers will try to continue their post-trade deadline surge when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers in a key NBA game on Friday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The 76ers (38-23) have won four consecutive games, including three since the recently acquired Harden joined the lineup. Philadelphia’s average margin of victory over the last three games has been 20.7 points a game. Meanwhile, Cleveland (36-26) sits in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, and is two games ahead of Toronto for the last guaranteed spot in the playoffs.
Caris Levert (foot) is out for Cleveland, while Tobias Harris (illness) is questionable for the Sixers. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET. Philadelphia is listed as a seven-point favorite in the latest 76ers vs. Cavaliers odds from Caesars Sportsbook while the Over/Under for total points scored is 216.5. Before making any Cavaliers vs. 76ers picks or NBA predictions, be sure to check out what SportsLine’s advanced computer model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 19 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 71-44 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning more than $2,100. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on 76ers vs. Cavaliers, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Cavs vs. Sixers:
- 76ers vs. Cavaliers spread: Philadelphia -7
- 76ers vs. Cavaliers over-under: 216.5 points
- PHI: Embiid leads the lead in scoring (29.8 points a game)
- CLE: The Cavaliers give up just 103.0 points per game, which leads the NBA
Featured Game | Philadelphia 76ers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Why the 76ers can cover
Embiid is having another dominant season. The skilled big man leads the league in scoring (a career-high 29.8 points a game) while also pulling down 11.1 rebounds per game, which ranks eighth in the league. Over his last nine games, he is averaging 33.1 points a game while shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.
In addition, Philadelphia faces a Cleveland team that has struggled recently. The Cavaliers have lost five of their last six games, which includes a 10-point loss to the Harden-less 76ers on Feb. 12. Cleveland is averaging just 104.0 points per game over its last six games, which ranks last in the league over that time.
Why the Cavaliers can cover
Cleveland is one of the best defensive teams in the league. Anchored by the stellar defense of rookie Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers give up just 103.0 points per game, which leads the NBA. They also rank fourth in defensive efficiency (106.3 points allowed per 100 possessions).
In addition, Cleveland has the frontcourt to give the 76ers’ Embiid problems. The 6-foot-11 Mobley, who’s the favorite for Rookie of the Year honors, is averaging 14.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Meanwhile the 6-foot-10 Jarrett Allen, who was an All-Star this season, is averaging 16.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks a game.
How to make 76ers vs. Cavaliers picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the point total, predicting a combined 216 total points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s 76ers vs. Cavaliers pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Cavaliers vs. 76ers? And which side of the spread hits almost 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the 76ers vs. Cavaliers spread you need to jump on Friday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.