Wednesday's Top Action
Tom Wilkinson
NBA Game Preview - 76ers at Bulls
The Philadelphia 76ers are road favorites on Wednesday night, as they visit the Chicago Bulls in a game that can be seen on ESPN. The 76ers are battling for third place in the Eastern Conference with Indiana, while the Bulls are out of playoff contention.
Even though Chicago is not going to make the playoffs they have been playing pretty well. Both teams will be playing with no rest on Wednesday, as the 76ers were home against Orlando on Tuesday, while the Bulls were at Indiana. Let’s look at Wednesday’s game on ESPN and NBA picks.
Philadelphia 76ers at Chicago Bulls
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: United Center, Chicago, IL
NBA Odds: 76ers -5, O/U 227
76ers vs. Bulls TV Coverage: ESPN
The 76ers played pretty well last week without Joel Embiid and they will not have him for this game on Wednesday night. Embiid missed Tuesday’s game against Orlando, but he did practice on Monday. Head coach Brett Brown didn’t give an indication on whether Embiid would play, but Embiid said on Saturday that he expects to return this week. Embiid leads the 76ers at 27.3 points per game, so his presence is critical. The most likely scenario is that the 76ers hold Embiid out until Friday’s game against Houston, but noting is set in stone.
One player who has stepped up with Embiid out of the lineup is Ben Simmons. He was names Eastern Conference Player of the Week. In the last five games, Simmons is averaging 20 points, 10.8 rebounds and 7.6 assists. He had back-to-back triple-doubles against the Pelicans and Warriors.
Philadelphia is 13-17 ATS on the road, with 15 games going over and 15 going under. They are averaging about 115 points per game and giving up about 112 per contest.
The Bulls have not been a good home team this season, as they are just 12-20 ATS, with 13 games going over, 18 going under, with one push. They are averaging 105 points per game and giving up just over 112 per contest.
Chicago has actually played pretty well of late, as they had won six of their last ten before Tuesday’s game at Indiana. The Bulls have been much better with Otto Porter Jr. in the lineup. They were 6-2 in the first eight games he played. Keep in mind that before the All-Star break the Bulls had the worst offensive rating in the league. Since getting Porter they have been greatly improved.
Chicago is not going to make the playoffs, but they will have an impact, as 11 of their last 17 games are against teams either in the playoffs or contending for the playoffs.
Key Stats
The 76ers are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Chicago. The 76ers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Central. The Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Atlantic. The Bulls are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 home games. The Over is 11-2 in the 76ers last 13 games playing with no rest. The Over is 4-0 in the Bulls last 4 vs. the Atlantic. The Over is 5-2 in the Bulls last 7 home games. The Over is 7-0 in the last 7 meetings in Chicago.
Tom Wilkinson
NBA Game Preview - 76ers at Bulls
The Philadelphia 76ers are road favorites on Wednesday night, as they visit the Chicago Bulls in a game that can be seen on ESPN. The 76ers are battling for third place in the Eastern Conference with Indiana, while the Bulls are out of playoff contention.
Even though Chicago is not going to make the playoffs they have been playing pretty well. Both teams will be playing with no rest on Wednesday, as the 76ers were home against Orlando on Tuesday, while the Bulls were at Indiana. Let’s look at Wednesday’s game on ESPN and NBA picks.
Philadelphia 76ers at Chicago Bulls
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: United Center, Chicago, IL
NBA Odds: 76ers -5, O/U 227
76ers vs. Bulls TV Coverage: ESPN
The 76ers played pretty well last week without Joel Embiid and they will not have him for this game on Wednesday night. Embiid missed Tuesday’s game against Orlando, but he did practice on Monday. Head coach Brett Brown didn’t give an indication on whether Embiid would play, but Embiid said on Saturday that he expects to return this week. Embiid leads the 76ers at 27.3 points per game, so his presence is critical. The most likely scenario is that the 76ers hold Embiid out until Friday’s game against Houston, but noting is set in stone.
One player who has stepped up with Embiid out of the lineup is Ben Simmons. He was names Eastern Conference Player of the Week. In the last five games, Simmons is averaging 20 points, 10.8 rebounds and 7.6 assists. He had back-to-back triple-doubles against the Pelicans and Warriors.
Philadelphia is 13-17 ATS on the road, with 15 games going over and 15 going under. They are averaging about 115 points per game and giving up about 112 per contest.
The Bulls have not been a good home team this season, as they are just 12-20 ATS, with 13 games going over, 18 going under, with one push. They are averaging 105 points per game and giving up just over 112 per contest.
Chicago has actually played pretty well of late, as they had won six of their last ten before Tuesday’s game at Indiana. The Bulls have been much better with Otto Porter Jr. in the lineup. They were 6-2 in the first eight games he played. Keep in mind that before the All-Star break the Bulls had the worst offensive rating in the league. Since getting Porter they have been greatly improved.
Chicago is not going to make the playoffs, but they will have an impact, as 11 of their last 17 games are against teams either in the playoffs or contending for the playoffs.
Key Stats
The 76ers are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Chicago. The 76ers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Central. The Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Atlantic. The Bulls are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 home games. The Over is 11-2 in the 76ers last 13 games playing with no rest. The Over is 4-0 in the Bulls last 4 vs. the Atlantic. The Over is 5-2 in the Bulls last 7 home games. The Over is 7-0 in the last 7 meetings in Chicago.

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