The 76ers are streaking in the wrong direction and primed to set an NBA record for being the biggest home underdog in two decades.
The freefalling Philly team was 16.5-point home underdogs to Indiana at Wells Fargo Center in NBA wagering action. Only twice in the past 20 years has a home team been given so many points by oddsmakers.
*Editor note: the spread reached 17 points around midday at Sportsbook
On April 2, 2008, the pre-LeBron Heat were +17 at home against New Orleans. A week later, the Clippers were also +17, but that game has an asterisk because they were 'home' in name only because the 'visitors' were the Los Angeles Lakers. The teams are co-tenants at Staples Center.
If the line climbs per a single point, the 76ers will own this ignominious honor.
This season the 76ers are 15-49 overall and 23-41 ATS against the number, while the Pacers are 47-17 and 33-30-1 ATS. (Note: follow us on Twitter for line updates and injuries news). As for the totals, Philadelphia is 31-32-1 on the OU, and Indiana is 28-34-2.
View Indiana Pacers vs Philadelphia 76ers Odds and Stats.
The visitors opened this morning as 16-point favorites in this one at most sportsbooks tracked at Odds Shark (including Sportsbook), while the total was hovering around 204.5 at Sportsbook and other shops.
This game matches up the No. 30 (76ers) and the No. 14 (Pacers) teams in the league, according to our current NBA Power Rankings at Odds Shark. A 99-82 result in favor of the Pacers is predicted by handicapping models.
Last time out for Indiana, they were a 94-83 Sportsbook as they battled the Celtics at home. The Pacers failed to cover in the match as a 12-point favorite, while 177 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. Indiana earned a 94-83 victory over Boston on Tuesday, getting 24 points from David West at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Philadelphia lost its last outing, a 115-98 result against the Kings on March 12. The 76ers failed to cover in that game as a 9.5-point underdog, while the 213 combined points took the game UNDER the total. Henry Sims poured in 20 points and chipped in with 10 rebounds in a losing cause for Philadelphia on Wednesday, as the Kings rolled to a 115-98 victory over Philadelphia at Wells Fargo Center.
How They Match Up:
The game also pits Philadelphia's No. 18-ranked offense, averaging 99.81 PPG, against a Pacers defense that ranks No. 1 at 92.02 PPG. The 76ers field goal percentage has averaged 43.25% so far, less than the Pacers shooters have achieved on the year, 45.47% per game.
A few Pacers at 76ers trends to consider:
Indiana is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Indiana is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Indiana's last 6 games
Indiana is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Philadelphia is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games
Philadelphia is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games
Philadelphia is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Next up:
Indiana at Detroit, Saturday, March 15th
Philadelphia home to Memphis, Saturday, March 15th
