Sixers vs. Thunder prediction and odds for Saturday, December 31 (Philly bounces back)
By Peter Dewey
The Philadelphia 76ers have lost back-to-back games after winning eight straight, but they did welcome guard Tyrese Maxey back into the lineup on Friday night against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Maxey should give the team an even bigger punch on offense, and the Sixers rank fourth in the NBA in defensive rating heading into their road date with the Oklahoma City Thunder on New Year’s Eve.
The Thunder are one of the best teams in the NBA against the spread, especially as home underdogs, where they’ve gone 8-4 ATS.
OKC is outside of the play-in picture, but the team is dangerous on almost every night with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing at an All-NBA level.
Do the Sixers bounce-back from Friday’s loss?
Here’s a look at the latest odds and a pick for this game:
Sixers vs. Thunder odds, spread and total
Sixers vs. Thunder prediction and pick
Philly is one of the best teams in the NBA on the second leg of back-to-backs, going 3-1-1 against the spread.
However, with the Sixers sitting as just 4.5-point favorites, I’m going to take them on the moneyline with the chance that Maxey could miss this game as he works himself back from injury.
Even if the Sixers don’t have Maxey, the Thunder don’t have anyone with the size to match up with Joel Embiid down low.
Philly was due to lose a few games at some point, but the team is 8-3 since James Harden returned from a foot injury. OKC may cover, as it has done several times this season, but I’m confident the Sixers finish with a win.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.