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We’re about to get a take a look at James Harden in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform.
Harden is about to make his Sixers debut on Friday evening towards the Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET). Philadelphia is enjoying its first recreation after the All-Star break whereas Minnesota is on the second recreation of a back-to-back and recent off a five-point win over Memphis on Thursday evening.
The Sixers are favored by 2.5 factors as most NBA eyes will likely be on Minneapolis to see how Harden and MVP candidate Joel Embiid play collectively.
As you already know, the Sixers focused Harden to pair with Embiid as a result of Ben Simmons refused to play for the Sixers after the disastrous method the 2020-21 season ended. Philly GM Daryl Morey shipped Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and a first-round choose to the Nets for Harden and Paul Millsap.
It was the second time in two seasons that Harden, 32, had been traded after he was traded final season from Houston to Brooklyn. And it’s truthful to say that he pushed for a commerce along with his actions and his play in each of these circumstances. Harden was sidelined with what the Nets mentioned was hamstring tightness on the time of his commerce to the Sixers and he hasn’t been his regular self this season on the court docket.
The Sixers are hoping that’s due to all of the dysfunction in Brooklyn and never due to a decline in Harden’s ability stage. Harden is capturing 41% from the sphere and 33$ from three up to now this season and averaging 22.5 factors per recreation. All three of these figures are down from his profession averages and down considerably from 2017-19 when Harden averaged over 30 factors per recreation for 3 consecutive seasons with the Rockets.
Harden probably isn’t going to common 30 factors per recreation for the Sixers. Embiid is the clear star of the franchise and may proceed to be the point of interest of the offense. However including Harden implies that the Sixers can have one in every of Embiid or Harden on the ground always.
So far as Friday goes, we’re inclined to avoid the sport. If you happen to’re actually itching to wager it, go along with the Sixers, although we’re questioning simply how a lot the road is inflated due to Harden’s presence and the eye of informal followers. With the Timberwolves coming off an enormous win 24 hours earlier, Philly has a fatigue benefit even when it’s enjoying with Harden and with out Curry within the beginning lineup for the primary time.
Different NBA motion
The Toronto Raptors are favored by 2.5 factors on the Charlotte Hornets in one of many first video games of the night (7 p.m. ET). The 2 ESPN video games are the first-place Miami Heat on the underachieving New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Los Angeles Clippers on the Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET). The Warmth are favored by 5.5 factors and we actually like that quantity for a crew that’s someway flown below the radar within the Japanese Convention.
The Lakers are 1.5-point favorites over the Clippers with out Anthony Davis in a pivotal recreation for the play-in spots within the Western Convention. The Lakers will likely be a half-game again of the Clippers in eighth with a win whereas the Clippers will prolong their result in 2.5 video games with a win.
Friday EPL kickoff
You’ve obtained an opportunity to wager some soccer on Friday afternoon (3 p.m. ET) when Southampton hosts Norwich Metropolis. The Saints are -190 to win at house whereas Norwich is now as much as +475 to tug the upset.
We’re backing Southampton after it has gotten factors in every of its previous 4 video games. These embrace ties towards each Manchester Metropolis and Manchester United and wins over Tottenham and Everton. Southampton is safely above the relegation zone in tenth place and might transfer as much as ninth forward of Brighton & Hove Albion with a win.
Norwich Metropolis, in the meantime, appears headed again to the Championship. The Canaries have simply 17 factors by way of 25 video games and are 5 factors again of seventeenth place.
Who cashed tickets Thursday?
The Celtics simply lined and the over hit in Boston’s 129-106 win over the Nets in Brooklyn on Thursday evening. The Pistons pulled a 106-103 upset over the Cavaliers at house whereas the Warriors blew out the Blazers 132-95 in Portland within the second TNT recreation of the evening.
The Pac-12 additionally had some wild motion Thursday evening. Oregon scored a 68-63 upset over No. 12 UCLA as a 2.5-point underdog whereas No. 16 USC held on for a 94-91 double-overtime win over an Oregon State crew that has gained simply three video games this season. USC was favored by 10.5 factors and the mixed 185 factors simply eclipsed the 139.5 over/below.
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