Posted at 8:00 AM ET. Odds are subject to change

Toronto +160 over PHILADELPHIA

Wells Fargo Arena – Philadelphia, PA

7:30 PM ET. This play isn’t about the Raptors as much as it is about the Sixers, who have become the hottest ticket in the NBA from a betting standpoint. Philadelphia sits at 6-1-1 ATS — the top covering team in the league — and the market has rewarded anyone backing them early. But whenever a team stacks covers in this fashion, they inevitably find their way into the oddsmaker’s crosshairs. And once the books decide to correct, it usually happens fast.

Let’s walk through the recent examples. Against Chicago, the Sixers opened +2.5. Early bettors grabbed the best of the number, and though Philly ultimately lost 113–111, anyone who struck early pushed or secured CLV. Then came Wednesday at Cleveland — a spot where Philadelphia was a double-digit dog, closing as a 12.5-point underdog. The Sixers would lose by 11 and the public dog won again against the number if you bet them late.

That is exactly when the books step in and make the next Sixers line heavier than it should be. And that’s what we have here.

Philadelphia is being tax-priced to counteract the recent flow of winning Sixers money. The oddsmakers aren’t in the charity business — once the betting public finds a pattern, the number grows teeth.

Enter the Raptors, who have quietly reinvented themselves. Toronto is 4-4 and riding a three-game winning streak over Cleveland, Memphis, and Milwaukee — all playoff-caliber teams. They even started the season with a 20-point road demolition of Atlanta before falling into a brief slump. Nevertheless, the proof is in the pudding. We’re getting a legitimately improved team against a Sixers side now inflated because of Philly’s spree of handing out free money. Toronto has the length, defense, and pace control to make this a grind for Philly — and in an inflated line scenario, that’s all we need. Raptors with the points to go. 

Take advantage of BET365's early MLB payout offer! 

For straight bets, if the team you back to win goes 5 runs ahead at any stage during the game, BET365 will pay out your bet in full regardless of whether the opposition comes back to win the game.

For parlays and Same Game Parlays, if a team you have backed goes 5 runs ahead, this selection will be marked as won within My Bets, with the remaining selections left to run.

Here is a wager we were paid out early on that would eventually lose. 

v