Sean Barnard details his preview and prediction for Saturday’s Philadelphia 76ers vs. Phoenix Suns NBA matchup.

Tipping off at 9:00 p.m. EST across a 10-game NBA slate, the Philadelphia 76ers will face off with the Phoenix Suns.

This marks the fourth game of the Sixers’ West Coast trip and the second and final matchup between these two teams this season. The Suns picked up a 116-110 victory in the first matchup, which took place in Philadelphia three weeks ago. It is worth noting that Joel Embiid was not on the floor in that matchup.

Looking at the odds for tonight’s game, the Suns are narrow 1.5-point favorites and hold -142 odds on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The 76ers are +120 underdogs with the game total set at 225.5 points.

This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Saturday night matchup.

76ers vs. Suns prediction, preview

The Philadelphia 76ers hold a 29-22 record on the season and sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The team elected to stand pat at the NBA trade deadline, with the exception of trading away Jared McCain and Eric Gordon for salary cap relief and future draft picks. Philadelphia will also continue to feel the absence of Paul George, who is serving the fifth game of his 25-game suspension. On the season, the Sixers are 29-22 against the spread, and the game total has gone 26-25 to the over/under.

Joel Embiid is listed as questionable for tonight’s matchup with right knee injury management and is the only name on the injury report. This is consistent with the way the Sixers have labeled the seven-time All-Star when he does suit up this year. Embiid has looked closer to his MVP self than seemed possible coming into the season, posting averages of 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Tyrese Maxey has ascended into a legitimate star in his own right, adding 28.8 points, 6.9 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. Third-overall pick V.J. Edgecombe has made a seamless transition to the NBA and has been a perfect fit as the glue of this Sixers team. The Baylor product is averaging 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game on the year. Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes, Dominick Barlow, and Trendon Watford each play notable roles.

Philadelphia is averaging the 12th-most points in the NBA at 116.8 per contest. The Sixers rank 12th in offensive rating, 22nd in field goal percentage, 16th in three-point percentage, and 19th in pace. Defensively, opponents are scoring 115.4 points per game against the Sixers, which ranks 14th in the league. They rank 14th in defensive rating, 18th in opponent field goal percentage, and ninth in opponent three-point percentage.

The Phoenix Suns hold a 31-21 record this year with the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey were the biggest additions at the trade deadline, with the team also working to shed some money for financial flexibility. Phoenix is looking to bounce back from a loss to the Warriors in the previous game, but has won four of its last six. On the season, the Suns are an NBA-best 34-18 against the spread, and the game total has remained under in 31 of their 52 games.

Grayson Allen and Isaiah Livers have been ruled out for this matchup due to knee and shoulder sprains. Devin Booker is questionable with a sprained ankle after missing the previous seven games. Jalen Green has missed the previous three games, but is questionable with hamstring injury management and a left hip contusion.

Booker has been really solid when he has been on the court, posting averages of 25.4 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.0 rebounds. Dillon Brooks has revealed new layers to his game in Phoenix, averaging 21.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Collin Gillespie has emerged as one of the biggest breakout players this season, adding 13.7 points, 4.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds, shooting 43.2% on three-point attempts. Mark Williams, Royce O’Neal, and Oso Ighodaro each play key roles in the rotation.

76ers at Suns pick, best bet

Both of these teams were a bit of a mystery coming into the season. The Phoenix Suns put an end to the super-team era by shipping off Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to turn a page back in the offseason. In contrast, the Sixers elected to run it back one more time and bank on better injury luck after last year’s disaster.

On a wider scale of things, both of these teams have exceeded expectations on the season. The Suns’ 34-18 ATS record is the best in the NBA, while the Sixers’ 29-22 ATS record ranks fourth. Phoenix got the better of this matchup in the first game in Philadelphia during a back-and-forth affair. The Suns’ 41% three-point shooting made a difference as the Sixers ran out of gas in the second half.

Expect things to look a bit different with Joel Embiid expected to be available tonight. Phoenix plays with admirable spunk, but lacks top-end talent in this type of matchup. This is especially the case if Booker and Green are limited or unable to play.

The Sixers snapped a five-game winning streak in the previous game against the Lakers, but have been playing great basketball of late. The organization elected to lean on continuity over making a splash, and there have been some exciting developments in the Embiid and Maxey duo. In contrast, the Suns have faded a bit, losing two of their last three and four of their last eight.

Phoenix is inexperienced at the big man spot, and Embiid will be intent on punishing his matchups. The Sixers also have several wing defenders who should have success slowing down players like Dillon Brooks and Collin Gillespie. With too many question marks about this Suns team, Philadelphia sees an edge on both sides of the ball. It was a missed opportunity by the 76ers when they fell short of the Suns in the previous matchup. Look for them to right this wrong and get a straight win to add to their stretch of strong play.

Best Bet: 76ers Moneyline (+120)