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NBA Previews- Philadelphia 76ers @ New Orleans Hornets
Pointspread: Hornets -6
Over/Under: 188
Tonight, the Philadelphia 76ers look to kickoff their New Year with a win against the New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast live on NBATV.
Philadelphia’s season got off to a dreadful start with 13 losses in its first 16 games, but since their 102-86 win over New Jersey on Nov. 27 as a 1 ½-point home favorite the 76ers have gone 10-7 straight-up. They are currently 13-20 SU but an impressive 22-10-1 against the spread. Philadelphia is 12 ½ games in back of Boston in the Atlantic Division and in ninth place in the Eastern Conference.
Much of the turnaround is due to the elevated play of Elton Brand and Jrue Holiday. Brand has become a consistent contributor with 14.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, while Holiday, in just his second year in the league, is second on the team with 14.3 points per game and is averaging a team-high 6.5 assists. Rookie guard/forward Evan Turner has come off the bench to add seven points and 4 ½ rebounds per game.
Another key to the Sixers’ recent success is offensive balance as all five starters are averaging in double-figures. They are scoring a total of 96.6 points per game and giving up an average of 97.4. Philadelphia is shooting 45 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from three-point range placing it squarely in the middle of the pack in the NBA.
New Orleans has the unfortunate position of playing in a division with two of the hottest teams in the league. The Hornets are 20-14 SU (17-16-1 ATS) and currently seventh in the Western Conference, but trail Dallas by 5 ½ games and San Antonio by nine games in the Southwest Division. They have won six out of their last 10 including an impressive 83-81 win over Boston as a 4 ½-point road favorite this past Friday night.
David West leads New Orleans with 18.6 points per game and Chris Paul leads in assists with 9.9 per game, which is third highest in the league. Emeka Okafor is the leading rebounder with 9.9 per game. The Hornets also have excellent balance on offense with five players scoring in double-figures.
They are averaging 93.9 points per game, ranking them 26th overall, but only giving up an average of 92.1 points; which is second best in the NBA. New Orleans is shooting 45.4 percent from the floor and 75.2 percent from the free-throw line. The Hornets remain solid under the boards with a + 1.39 edge over their opponents in rebounds per game.
Philadelphia has played seven straight road games and is 5-2 ATS. It is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games overall and the total has gone ‘over’ in four of its last six games.
New Orleans is 3-2 ATS in its last five games at home and 5-2 ATS in its last seven games overall. The total has stayed ‘under’ in three of its last five games.
Head-to-head, the 76ers have won the last three both SU and ATS, including a 101-94 win last February as a 2 ½-point road underdog. They played earlier this season with the Sixers coming away with an 88-70 victory as a one-point home underdog.
Philadelphia has to be a bit road weary, but would love to return home with a fourth-straight victory over the Hornets under its belt. The 76ers’ defense should keep them in the game until the end, and while they may not get the outright win, they are a solid pick to cover with the six points.
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