The Toronto Raptors will be looking to pick up a sixth straight victory when they complete a home-and-home series with the struggling Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday afternoon.
Toronto claimed a 114-109 win as 1.5-point road favourites at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com on Thursday in its first visit of the season to Philadelphia, and has now picked up the win in 11 of 12 outings going into Saturday’s 76ers vs. Raptors betting matchup at Air Canada Centre.
While the Raptors have been steady performers all season long, they have been particularly dominant at the ACC, posting straight-up wins in nine straight, and own an NBA-best 11-1 straight-up record in 12 dates on home hardwood. The team has regularly racked up big point totals at home, averaging 116.4 points per game during its current nine-win tear, and scoring 120 or more points in four of its past five.
However, Toronto’s impressive offensive production has not resulted in steady results at the sportsbooks. The Raptors have covered on just five occasions during their current 9-0 SU run at home, and have also seen the point total go OVER in just five of those nine outings, according to the OddsShark NBA Database.
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The 76ers have cooled off since opening the campaign on a respectable 11-7 SU run. Philadelphia has failed to tally consecutive SU victories since, going 3-9 SU over its past 12, covering just twice during that stretch. The Sixers have particularly struggled on the road of late, recording just one SU victory in their past five, and covering just once during that stretch to end a solid 7-3 against-the-spread run.
Philadelphia has also enjoyed no success in recent trips north of the border. The 76ers have lost outright in 10 straight visits to the ACC since 2012, surrendering 122 or more points in three of their past four, including a lopsided 128-94 loss to the Raptors as 9-point road underdogs on Oct. 21.
After enjoying a two-day Christmas break, the Raptors hit the road for a pair of games, starting with a visit to Dallas on Boxing Day, and a clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.
The Raptors have taken four straight from the last-place Mavericks, and three of four at American Airlines Arena. Toronto has also produced upset wins as a betting underdog in its past two road dates with the Thunder, but is 4-7 SU in seven meetings overall with OKC.
