Sixers vs. Raptors Betting Odds, Picks, Prediction (April 18, 2022)

On Monday night, the Sixers will take on the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of their first round NBA playoff series. The Sixers won Game 1 handily, and suddenly the Raptors have about as close to a must-win game as a team can have this early in a series. If the Raptors cannot find a way to win tonight, it’s nearly impossible to imagine that they could win four of the final five games of the series, including at least one in Philadelphia.

Let’s get into our Sixers vs. Raptors betting pick with player prop predictions, odds, and analysis for this April 18, 2022 matchup. 

Sixers vs. Raptors Betting Pick (April 18, 2022)

What a difference a day makes. In this case, that day was Saturday.

Before Game 1 of this series, the Raptors were +150 to advance to the second round. Those odds made the Raptors one of the strongest underdogs from an odds perspective in the entire playoff field. Yes, the Sixers had managed to duck the Brooklyn Nets, but the Raptors were nowhere as limited or weak as, say, the Chicago Bulls or the Atlanta Hawks. What had they really done?

Then the Sixers blasted the Raptors in a game where both Scottie Barnes and Gary Trent Jr. sustained injuries. Barnes is out for Game 2. Trent Jr. is doubtful, which means that even if he plays, his effectiveness will be in significant question. Odds on the Raptors to get out of this series are now +340, while the Sixers are -475.

Meanwhile, last night, the Nets pushed the Boston Celtics to the last second in Game 1 of their series, and that series looks like it could easily go seven games. Even down 0-1, the Nets are +180 to make it to the second round.

Maybe the Sixers knew what they were doing all along! Yeah, no, we don’t believe that, either. But you take the breaks when you get them.

We’ve outlined our best betting picks below, including a number of promos available from legal online sportsbooks. For a deeper dive on each offer, be sure to check out our picks for the four best Raptors vs. Sixers betting promos.

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Sixers vs. Raptors Odds

Here’s the line for the Sixers and Raptors at FanDuel Sportsbook:

• Point Spread: Sixers -7.5 (-112), Raptors +7.5 (-108)
• Moneyline: Sixers -335, Raptors +270
• Total: 215.5

Bets We Like With a Sixers Win

Sixers to Win and Under 215.5 Total Points (+139, FanDuel Sportsbook)

Trent Jr. and Barnes combined to average 33.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in the regular season. We noted before the series started that the Raptors are the classic “whole is greater than the sum of the parts” group. That proved true in Game 1, as four Raptors finished in double figures but none of them scored more than 24 points. With Barnes and Trent out, the Raptors are going to have to try to win this game ugly, and that means slowing the pace and relying on defense. We don’t think the Raptors can win the game, but we do think they can take some of the air out of the ball.

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Bets We Like Independent of Outcome

Joel Embiid Under 32.5 Points (-130, Caesars Sportsbook)

Embiid scored 19 points on 5-15 shooting from the field on Saturday night. That made it three straight games where the Raptors have held Embiid to 30 or fewer points. With the injuries they have, the Raptors cannot afford to employ a “let Embiid get his and try to stop everybody else” strategy, because Embiid could get 50 if you don’t keep throwing the house at him.

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James Harden Over 10.5 Assists (-135, DraftKings Sportsbook)

We are as bored of giving this prop as you are of playing it, but it keeps winning. Harden had 14 assists on Saturday night in a game where the Raptors were, by and large, healthy. Tonight, Harden might get to run a lot of minutes against backups. Harden should be able to get the ball wherever he wants it to go in this game.

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OG Anunoby Over 17.5 Points (-125, FOX Bet)

Someone is going to have to try to go off for the Raptors tonight in the confirmed absence of Barnes and the likely absence of Trent Jr. Anunoby averaged 17.1 points in the regular season and scored 20 on Saturday night. He is going to get a few extra looks tonight, and another 20+ point game is likely.

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Sixers vs. Raptors Prediction

The Sixers lost a number of games this season in situations where their opponents were missing players due to injury because the Sixers played down to the competition. But the regular season is such a slog, some of those losses just happen. The Sixers have a chance to put the Raptors — the team that ended their playoff run three seasons ago — up against the wall, in the corner, pick whatever cliche you want. The Raptors are already too wounded to fight back the way many of us thought they would before the series began.

Pick: Sixers -7.5 (-110, Barstool Sportsbook)

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