At the beginning of the NBA Playoffs the Raptors had to of course listen to the litany of their playoff failures. One year ago, the best Toronto team ever failed to get past a vulnerable Cleveland Cavaliers team in the second round. This year with a new marquee man in Kawhi Leonard and new head coach in Nick Nurse things were often uncertain. Now the Raptors find themselves facing a strong Philadelphia 76ers team with NBA games betting odds. While the Raptors still have their doubters the 76ers are unproven too. Both are trying for uncharted territory.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors Game 5
Date and Time: Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 8 p.m. ET
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
NBA Betting Online Odds at SBG:
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76ers | +6 (-110) | 211½ (-110) | +210 |  |
| Raptors | -6 (-110) | 211½ (-110) | -135 | |
| ||||
76ers vs. Raptors TV Coverage: TNT
Kawhi Brings Championship Element
Namely Demar DeRozan was “The Franchise” for the Raptors and the key component to their division title last year. When he was traded last summer for Leonard there was plenty of concern about Toronto’s best days being over. Leonard has risen to the occasion as the top Raptor with an excellent playoff. To illuminate he has 31.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per post season game. The first 2011 first round pick of the Indiana Pacers was an All Star this year. Fans should recall that Leonard was the 2014 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.
Embiid Transforms 76ers
When Joel Embiid was drafted in the first round and third overall by Philadelphia in 2014 the 76ers were a joke franchise. Analytics geeks had ruined the team with their number crunching. But Embiid was so good even Sixers management couldn’t screw it up. Indeed, he has made the All-Star team in back to back seasons as a integral NBA games betting asset. Embiid leads Philadelphia with 22.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per playoff game.
Coaching Resurgence
Somehow Philadelphia’s Brett Brown survived records of 19-63, 18-64, 10-72, and 28-54. Concurrently he is celebrated as one of the NBA’s great minds. Embiid made Brown into a genius. By contrast this is the first NBA head coaching gig for Nick Nurse. He was a Toronto assistant for five years before assuming the head job after last year’s playoff failure. By all accounts he has improved the Raptors offensive flow and passing.
Head to Head Series vs. Odds
Late this series has been even with online sportsbook gamblers. Each team has posted four wins in their last eight games. Five of the last six between the Raptors and 76ers have gone under the total. However, the Raptors have bossed the cashier’s cage at Scotiabank Arena. TO has come away with the cash in eight of their last ten home games with the 76ers. Four of the last five between these teams at Toronto stayed under the number.
Matchup to Watch
On this occasion Toronto will be playing one of the biggest and most important games in franchise history. It is impossible to ignore their dominance with NBA games betting odds at home against the 76ers. Look for Leonard and Nurse to have the Raps ready.
76ers vs. Raptors NBA games Betting Odds Picks
In this situation the intangibles and home court belong to Toronto!
NBA Betting Online Pick: Toronto Raptors
NBA Betting Online Score Prediction: Raptors 108, 76ers 98.