The Philadelphia 76ers are on a roll with four wins in their last five games and a finally healthy Joel Embiid back in the lineup as they look to stay hot against the Indiana Pacers.
Embiid dropped 31 points in his return to the lineup and looks poised to do some damage in the paint with another high-scoring showing against one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA.
I’ll dish out all the details on my Embiid bet and more in my Pacers vs. 76ers predictions and NBA picks for Friday, December 13.
Pacers vs 76ers prediction
My best bet
Joel Embiid Over 28.5 points (-115 at bet365)
My analysis
It’s been a frustrating season for Joel Embiid, who’s played just five games due to a lingering knee issue, but the Philadelphia 76ers star made an immediate impact in his return to the lineup last Sunday with 31 points and 12 rebounds in a 108-100 win against the Bulls.
I’m expecting Embiid to have another strong showing vs the Indiana Pacers tonight, as he should do damage in the paint against one of the NBA’s weakest defensive squads.
The Indiana Pacers come into Friday’s game with five losses over their last six games, having surrendered 120.5 points per game during that span. Indiana also owns the fifth-worst defense in the NBA this season, allowing 118.2 points per contest.
One area where the Pacers are really struggling defensively is in the paint, where they’re allowing 51.4 points per game – the seventh-worst mark in the league.
Embiid, of course, is one of the best paint scorers in the NBA and has scored 45.5% of his points in the paint so far this season. The big man shot 13-for-28 (46.4%) from the field in Sunday’s win, with 20 of his 31 points coming from the paint.
Pacers vs 76ers same-game parlay
Joel Embiid Over 28.5 points
76ers Over 117.5 points
76ers –6.5
The 2023 MVP is back in the lineup and finally healthy, which gives the 76ers a star-studded trio of Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey – just the third time this season that all three players will take the court.
That should help the Sixers score Over 117.5 points – a number the Pacers have given up in four of their last six games.
Philly has also covered the spread in five straight games, while Indiana is 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Pacers vs 76ers odds
Pacers vs 76ers live odds
Pacers vs 76ers opening odds
- Spread: Indiana +5.5 (-110) | Philadelphia -5.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Indiana (+180) | Philadelphia (-225)
- Over/Under: Over 224.5 (-110) | Under 224.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Pacers vs 76ers spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Sixers opened as a 6.5-point favorite and there wasn’t much movement to speak of through Thursday night. The Pacers are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games overall and 1-8 ATS in their last nine road games.
- Tonight’s total opened at 228 points, with the Over going 10-4 in Indiana’s last 14 games and 7-0 in the last seven meetings between the two teams.
- The 76ers are 8-2 in their last 10 meetings against the Pacers, going 6-4 ATS during that span.
Pacers vs 76ers trend
The Indiana Pacers have hit the Game Total Over in 32 of their last 47 games (+16.60 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. 76ers.
How to watch Pacers vs 76ers
| Location: | Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA |
| Date: | Friday, 12-12-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | FanDuel Sports Network - Indiana, NBC Sports Philadelphia |
Pacers vs 76ers latest injuries
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