The Philadelphia 76ers continue their hunt for the No. 1 spot in the East with a non-conference clash against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
The Sixers head to Texas as NBA betting favorites on a three-game winning streak and in second place in the East. The Spurs, on the other hand, have dropped back-to-back games — including blowing a 29-point halftime lead at Boston — and are trying to hold on to the 10th spot in the West and the final ticket to the play-in tournament.
Dive into our free NBA picks and predictions for 76ers vs. Spurs on May 2.
76ers vs Spurs odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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NBA Sharp Money and Line Movement Report
By Patrick EversonThe line made a big move late this afternoon on news that DeMar DeRozan is among a host of San Antonio players sitting out tonight (see below). PointsBet USA adjusted by moving Philadelphia straight from -6 to -9, and the number is up to -10 at 5:15 p.m. ET, after opening -5 Saturday afternoon. "Heavy action on the 76ers, with 86 percent of spread bet count and 83 percent of spread handle. The book will be rooting for the Spurs to cover this one," PointsBet's Mike Korn said. The total dipped from 221.5 to 219.5, though there's much more Over action, at 77 percent of bets/86 percent of money. "The book is rooting for the Under," Korn said.
Check out the full line movement for this game76ers at Spurs betting preview
Injuries
76ers: None.
Spurs: Dejounte Murray G (Out), DeMar DeRozan F (Out), Jakob Poeltl C (Out), Derrick White G (Out), Trey Lyles F (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The 76ers are 7-1-1 ATS in their last nine games as road favorites. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Spurs.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
The Spurs are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five outings and own a 6-1-1 ATS mark in their last seven contests going back to April 17, with six of those games coming away from home. The team is back at the AT&T Center for just the third time in the past two weeks, but it’s a brief stop before heading out for four-game road swing—putting an emphasis on holding homecourt Sunday. Overall, the Spurs haven’t been a great bet in San Antonio, going just 13-19 ATS as hosts.
San Antonio’s late-season surge was built on stopping the basketball, however, since the linchpin of that defense — Derrick White — went down with a season-ending ankle injury, the Spurs have been barfing up points. The team has allowed regulation totals of 128, 133, and 116 in their last three games with those foes shooting better than 50 percent from the field.
Philadelphia comes in hot, averaging 124.7 during its current three-game winning streak. And while this is just the Sixers’ third road game in the past 10 contests, and their offensive output does dip in the role of visitor, they’re a handful defensively and are giving up only 107.9 points per away game on the year.
The Spurs will struggle to slow down Philly’s talent-rich offense and come up short if it decides to turn this matchup into a shootout. The Sixers have lived up to the oddsmakers’ expectations as road chalk, going 7-1-1 ATS in their last nine games giving the points as visitors.
PREDICTION: Philadelphia -6 (-110)
Over/Under pick
Losing White takes one of the Spurs' best two-way talents off the court and that will compound itself against a deep Philadelphia perimeter that is getting healthy at the right time.
The Sixers are shooting better than 42 percent from 3-point range during this three-game run, knocking down an average of 13.3 triples in those victories. That’s a scary thought when you combine it with the inside force of Joel Embiid.
Embiid leads the top-ranked post-up offense in the NBA (scoring frequency of 53 percent) and presents a problem on the glass for the Spurs. Philly boasts a rebound rate of 51.4 percent and hauls in more than 10 offensive boards an outing, collecting the fifth-most second-chance points (14.2) in the league.
San Antonio has been bullied on the boards in the last three outings, giving up 15 offensive rebounds per contest and a league-high 23 second-chance points a game. The 76ers stomped the Spurs 134-99 back in March (playing Over the 224-point total) and out-rebounded San Antonio 54-32, including 13 offensive boards and 19 second-chance points—all without Joel Embiid in the lineup.
PREDICTION: Over 221 (-110)
Player prop pick
Ben Simmons faces a short-handed Spurs backcourt Sunday, with White out for the year and fellow guard Dejounte Murray sitting with a sore knee.
At 6-foot-11, Simmons already has a massive size advantage over any perimeter defenders and will torture bigger matchups with his ballhandling and speed. Simmons is averaging 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists this month and is coming off an 18-point, six-rebound, five-assist effort against Atlanta.
He posted 14 points, nine assists and four boards in the win over San Antonio back in March and will stack up the stats again this Sunday with the Spurs missing some key defenders.
PREDICTION: Ben Simmons points + rebounds + assists Over 27.5 (-108)
76ers vs Spurs betting card
- Philadelphia -6 (-110)
- Over 221 (-110)
- Ben Simmons points + rebounds + assists Over 27.5 (-108)
Picks made on 5/02/2021 at 10:54 a.m. ET
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