Posted at 3:30 PM EST odds are subject to change.

Pinnacle -2½ -109 BET365 -2½ -110 SportsInteraction -2½ -109 888Sport -2½ -110

Phoenix -2½ over Philadelphia

8:10 PM EST. We understand Phoenix is a little banged up, but few teams run as deep as it does. The Suns were a 12-point favorite in back-to-back games against Portland on Friday and Saturday nights and split those games, losing the first, but winning and covering in the rematch. All 12 members of the Suns scored in that game. Phoenix was also -3½ against a very talented Minnesota team, just a week ago on November 1. The Suns went 5-1 straight up and against the spread in that six-game homestand, so they can’t wait to get back on the court. Setting a winning tone on this four-game road trip is going to be paramount. With all that said, this play has little to do with the Suns, and everything to do with fading a Philadelphia team that is on the ropes.

The 76ers are in dire straits at the moment. This team had high expectations before the season started, but for a number of reasons, Philadelphia has failed to live up to those lofty goals. One of the big talking points for Philly coming into the season was that James Harden was in shape, healthy, and ready to remove the stain on his good name. Well, we are about 10 games into the season, and Harden is already on the sidelines and will be there for at least a month. Dude has a strained tendon in his foot. Soft tissue injuries like that rarely heal in the time allotted and they are notorious for lingering, especially when stressed to the max. We’ll leave Harden alone for the moment, but once he pokes his head out of the sand and is set to return, we’ll be back for more.

Furthering the 76ers ability to field a competitive lineup is that Joel Embiid is still out with what the team is calling “a non-COVID illness” whatever the hell that means. Hangnail? Loose stool? Embiid has missed the last three games, but he is expected to return tonight barring any setbacks. In case you haven't been following Philly’s season so far, Embiid came into the year already banged up with a case of plantar fasciitis, which is another ailment that is notoriously difficult to “get right” from without extended rest. Embiid was already pushing his limit when he suited up at the beginning of the year and he looked like garbage. His return will do nothing to help the 76ers out of this funk, but it does allow us to take advantage of the market’s perception that Philly “needs him” to be successful. The reality is, anything short of Michael Jordan in his prime is not going to heal what hurts the Sixers. Philly has no business being priced in this range against one of the league’s best. This is a very beatable number, plain and simple. Attack.