NBA odds are rolling through Week 1 of the season, and we have a good non-conference matchup when the 1-1 San Antonio Spurs meet the 0-2 Philadelphia 76ers.
San Antonio secured its first victory of the season by defeating the Indiana Pacers 137-134. Philadelphia is looking for its first win of the season after successive losses to Boston and Milwaukee.
Can Philadephia get off the snide and snag its first win? Find out in our free NBA picks and predictions for Saturday, October 22.
Spurs vs 76ers best odds
Spurs vs 76ers picks and predictions
Philly guard James Harden is coming off a 1-for-7 shooting night from beyond the arc, and he’s my best bet to knock down Over 2.5 triples.
Harden is averaging nearly a triple-double this season and — despite the poor shooting night from downtown — is a career 37% shooter from beyond the arc. You can bet he’ll look for his shot tonight against a Spurs defense allowing 13 made triples per contest.
The 76ers guard is launching eight per night from downtown, and his 40.1% usage rate suggests Harden will have enough opportunities to get his shots up, and he will undoubtedly look for his tonight.
The Spurs are the type of team an 0-2 side like the 76ers love to play against. They play the third-fastest tempo in the game with the 30th-ranked defense, and that’s the type of environment a player like Harden will flourish in.
Shooters shoot, and Harden will come out firing against the non-existent Spurs' long-range defense. The faster pace suits Harden, and the shaky Spurs defense will allow the southpaw to get back on track in much less than his usual 39 minutes.
My best bet: James Harden Over 2.5 made threes (+119 at Pinnacle)
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Spurs vs 76ers spread analysis
The 13.5-point spread is a considerable number to lay, but the 76ers should probably cover tonight.
The NBA schedule gods didn’t do Philly any favors opening its season with Boston and Milwaukee on successive nights, but they are 0-2 and this is a golden opportunity to get right.
Philly had its chances in both contests. They blew an eight-point lead against the Celtics and had a late lead in a tight defensive battle against the Bucks.
Tonight isn’t going to be that kind of night. Joel Embiid had a difficult night against Milwaukee and he'll want to go off tonight in front of the Wells Fargo Center faithful. He hates losing at home, and San Antonio doesn’t have much, if anything, that can slow him down.
Then there's James Harden. He’s been money for the 76ers but delivered bricks from deep against Milwaukee and finished 1-7 from beyond the arc. He’s averaging eight dimes and has jacked up eight triples per night with a dreamy-type matchup, and he’ll be looking to bounce back from his lame shooting night.
The Spurs probably have the worst defense in the league and have squeaked by against rebuilding teams Oklahoma City and Indiana.
Like most young teams, they play fast with a below-average turnover rate, and their offense is further along than the defense is. They played a crazy fast game last night in their win over Indiana, but the 76ers' defense is the toughest they’ve faced to date.
Coming off a disappointing home loss — one the Sixers probably should have won — I look for Philly to come out firing and pour it on tonight against a Spurs defense that will accommodate them.
The 76ers defense will hunker down and take all their early scheduling frustration out on a Spurs side playing its second-consecutive night. I want fewer points, but I’m leaning toward Philly to cover.
Spurs vs 76ers Over/Under analysis
Depending on the book, the total is anywhere from 222.5 to 224 points and I believe this game will go Over the total.
The Wells Fargo Center faithful will enjoy one of those back-and-forth contests where maybe the defense takes a back seat to the offense.
San Antonio has the worst defense in the league, and you can bet the several highly-talented 76ers offensive players will be looking to put on a show at home. The total has gone Over the oddsmakers' number in both their contests thus far, while Philly is 1-1-0.
This contest features the 11th-best effective shooting percentage and Philly checks in at No. 16. These teams can shoot and score and in bunches. Philly has the worst offensive rebound rate in the game and should see a boost tonight against the 28th-best defensive rebounding team in the NBA.
I’m leaning Over. The Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings in Philadelphia and 4-1-0 over its past five. I expect that trend to continue tonight.
Spurs vs 76ers betting trend to know
The Spurs are 2-5 ATS in their last seven meetings in Philadelphia. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. 76ers.
Spurs vs 76ers game info
| Location: | Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA |
| Date: | Saturday, October 22, 2022 |
| Tip-off: | 6:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | NBCS-Philadelphia, Bally Sports San Antonio |
