Philadelphia 76ers at San Antonio Spurs NBA Picks & Predictions 12/17/2018

Monday, December 17, 2018

AT&T Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Philadelphia 76ers head to AT&T Center to take on the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, December 17, 2018. The opening line for this game has Philadelphia as 2 point favorites.

The 76ers head into this matchup with a mark of 19-11. They are 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They have a point differential of 1.8 as they average 113.8 points per contest while giving up 112.0 per game. The Spurs have an overall record of 15-15 this season. They are 4th in the Southwest Division. They average 110.2 points per game and surrender 111.0, good for a point differential of -0.8.

Valuable Philadelphia 76ers Betting Trends

The Philadelphia 76ers are 13-17-0 against the spread this season

The Philadelphia 76ers are 17-12-0 against the over/under this year

Important San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends

The San Antonio Spurs are 15-14-1 against the spread this season

The San Antonio Spurs are 17-13-0 against the over/under this year

Key Philadelphia 76ers Injuries

12/15/18 G Jimmy Butler Groin is questionable Sunday vs Cleveland
11/20/18 PG Markelle Fultz Shoulder is out indefinitely

Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries

11/11/18 C Pau Gasol Foot is out indefinitely
10/08/18 G Dejounte Murray ACL is out for season

Player Spotlight

Ben Simmons comes into this game averaging 15.7 points per contest while playing 33.4 minutes per night this year. He grabs 9.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 7.7 assists per game. His FG percentage is 57% while his free throw percentage is 58%. Joel Embiid averages 27.0 points per contest in 34.4 minutes per game. He averages 3.6 assists per game and 13.6 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% for the season while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

LaMarcus Aldridge scores 18.8 points per contest while playing 32.8 minutes per game. He hauls in 9.6 rebounds per contest and has 2.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. DeMar DeRozan averages 23.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 35.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.5 rebounds per game and has 6.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Philadelphia averages 113.8 points per contest, which is 7th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 1.8 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 10th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 18th in the NBA. They average 47.4 boards per contest and 26.3 assists per game, which ranks them 6th and 5th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 4th with 15.7 per game. The 76ers allow 112.0 points per contest, which is 23rd in the NBA. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 4th and 8th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 44.1 rebounds a game which ranks 11th, and they allow 21.9 assists per game which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 6th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

San Antonio is 14th in the NBA with 110.2 points per contest this season. They are 8th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is -0.8. They shoot 39% from beyond the arc, which is good for 2nd in the league. They are 17th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.3 boards per contest and 17th in assists per game with 23.8. The Spurs are 29th in turnovers per contest with 12.3. The Spurs give up 111.0 points per game, which ranks them 17th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 48% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 26th and 20th in those defensive statistics. They rank 21st with 24.6 dimes allowed per game and 10th with 44.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Spurs are 4th in the league in forcing turnovers with 12.5 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The 76ers are 13th in the league in defensive rating with 109, and their offensive rating of 110.7 is ranked 14th. They are 7th in the NBA in pace with 101.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 10th. As a unit they are 5th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 12th in the NBA. Philadelphia is 6th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 10.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 30th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

San Antonio is 29th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 5th in the league. The Spurs are 9th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.7, and their defensive rating of 112.5 is ranked 25th. In terms of pace they are 25th in the league with 98 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 17th. As a team they are 14th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 27% of their shots, ranking 30th in the league.

Who will win tonight's 76ers/Spurs NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Philadelphia -2

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