Warriors at 76ers NBA Picks

The Golden State Warriors visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night in a game that can be seen on ESPN. Both teams have started to play better after slow starts and each team has superstar players, as the Warriors feature Stephen Curry, while the 76ers have Joel Embiid. The Warriors are in the midst of a tough six-game road trip and they are also in a 3-in-4 situation, as they were at Milwaukee on Tuesday, at Indiana on Wednesday and then had Thursday off. The 76ers are in a much better spot, as they hosted Sacramento on Tuesday and then had Wednesday and Thursday off. Golden State has been terrible on the road this season, as they were 2-11 on the road before they began this current road trip, while the 76ers were 9-5 in their first 14 home games. Let’s look at Warriors at 76ers NBA picks.

Golden State Warriors at Philadelphia 76ers

Date and Time: Friday, December 16, 2022 at 7:30 PM EST

Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

TV Coverage: ESPN

BetMaker previews the upcoming matchup and gives a prediction for Wednesday night’s contest.

Golden State Warriors at Philadelphia 76ers NBA Picks

The Warriors are scoring plenty of points, as they are 4^th in the league at just over 117 points per game. They are also 6^th in the league in 3-point shooting at just over 37%. The problem for Golden State is defense, as they are 23^rd in the league, giving up just over 116 points per contest. Stephen Curry leads the team in scoring at 30 points per game and he also leads the team in assists at seven per contest. Kevon Looney leads the team in rebounds at just over seven per game.

Golden State has been playing better defense of late, particularly the second unit, as head coach Steve Kerr moved Draymond Green from the starting unit to the second unit and the move has worked. The second unit with Green has allowed just 93.8 points per 100 possessions in their 99 minutes together. “[My priority has been to] make sure that unit is defending,” Green said to the media, “As a second unit your job isn’t to go out and build the lead, your job is to maintain the lead. And in any instance that the first unit failed to build a lead, then your job is to slow down and settle the game in. That’s been my focus with it — and trying to help that unit play as much mistake-free basketball as we possibly can.”

The 76ers are averaging just over 110 points per game which is just 22^nd in the league. They have been helped by their three-point shooting, as they are hitting at just over 38%. The 76ers have been very good on defense, as they are giving up just over 108 points per game, 3^rd in the league. They are the top defensive team in the league against the 3-pointer. Joel Embiid leads the team in scoring at just over 33 points per contest and he also leads the team in rebounding at almost 10 per game. James Harden leads the team in assists at just over 10 per contest.

Golden State has won six of the last ten against Philadelphia with six of the ten going under the total. The Warriors have won 7 of the last 10 in Philadelphia, with seven of the ten going under the total. The teams split their two games last season, with each team winning at home. The Warriors won 116-96 at home, while the 76ers won 102-93 in Philly. Both games went under the total.

Find all updated NBA betting odds at PointsBet.

Golden State Warriors at Philadelphia 76ers NBA Free Pick

The Warriors are not a good road team, but there is no question they are playing better than they were early in the season. The trends point to taking the 76ers in this game, but I am leery about laying points to Golden State. I think the better play is the total. The Warriors are playing much better defense and we know that the 76ers can play good defense. It also helps that the trends point to a lower scoring game when these teams meet. I’ll go under the total in this contest.

The Pick: Under

Check out the latest NBA betting odds at PointsBet.