Cavaliers vs 76ers Same Game Parlay: Best SGP Picks
Optimism is high in the Philadelphia 76ers camp following the huge win in their season opener at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. Thursday sees them take on LeBron’s old team the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the two teams lock horns for the first of their three scheduled regular season games.
This game is part of Thursday’s ESPN double-header, tip-off is scheduled at 1 pm ET. Afterwards we have another high profile Western Conference clash as the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Denver Nuggets, live from 9.30 pm ET. Can LeBron and co. go up 2-0 on the young season or will the Cavs steal one on the road? Read our NBA Picks for both games, but now let’s dive into my SGP picks!
Cavaliers vs 76ers Same Game Parlay picks
Tyrese Maxey to Score 25+ Points (+120)
Peyton Watson 2+ Made Threes (+112)
Jarrett Allen Over 7.5 Rebounds (-154)
Same Game Parlay odds: +577
Cavaliers vs 76ers SGP Pick: Tyrese Maxey to Score 25+ Points (+120)
The 28-point Tyrese Maxey got in the season opener at MSG might have been the easiest he’s scored in a while. Having Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Joel Embiid all by his side makes Maxey’s life so much easier on offense, get used to seeing him top of the scoring charts on most nights for Philadelphia this season. Some analysts are already jumping the gun and saying he might even be in the MVP discussion if the Sixers win 55+ games and Maxey averages around 28 ppg. I’d pump the brakes a bit on that, but Maxey is certainly a nightly threat to fill it up, especially against teams that struggle defending on the fast break. Cleveland ranked just 18th in opponent fastbreak points last season, allowing 15.5 per game. Maxey has scored 25+ in 3 of the last 5 meetings, with a consistent three-point shot at 36% on 2.9 makes per game in the last 10 games head-to-head. I have him going to work in the Sixers home opener on Thursday.
Read our full Cleveland Cavaliers vs Philadelphia 76ers Predictions
Cavaliers vs 76ers SGP Pick: Peyton Watson 2+ Made Threes (+112)
Watson’s career year with the Denver Nuggets landed him a big time move to Cleveland and a 4-year $88M contract in the offseason. His efficiency from downtown went up by almost 6% compared to last year, he also averaged 14.6 ppg compared to just 8.1 ppg the year before that. It was enough to convince the Cavaliers to make a move for him, in an attempt to boost their guard play and add much needed scoring from the perimeter. One of Watson’s better games of the season came against Philadelphia back in January where he scored 24 points on 53% efficiency. He will have his hands full on defense trying to slow down the likes of Maxey and Brown here, but I still feel like James Harden will create enough for him to get some open looks from downtown. The Sixers weren’t an elite team around the perimeter defensively last season, allowing opponents to shoot 37.4% in home games (4th worst in the league). Against the Knicks on Tuesday they allowed 11 threes in a somewhat slower pace, look for Watson to do some damage here.
Cavaliers vs 76ers SGP Pick: Jarrett Allen Over 7.5 Rebounds (-154)
If there is one major flaw this Sixers team has it’s in the rebounding department. Sure, Joel Embiid got 11 boards, LeBron James got 9 and Jaylen Brown got 8, but outside of those three the Sixers really struggled to consistently grab missed shots. Adem Bona isn’t exactly a high level replacement for Joel Embiid when he goes out, we even saw LeBron James play the center position at times in the season opener on Tuesday. With all that said, this game is a perfect opportunity for Jarrett Allen to assert himself down low as the best rebounder on the court in Thursday’s game. He has enjoyed a fair bit of success in recent meetings vs Embiid and his Sixers, grabbing at least 8 rebounds 8 times over the last 14 games head-to-head. Philadelphia gave up the 7th most rebounds to opposing centers last season, and the 6th most overall as a team (54.5 per game). Health also plays a factor here – on one hand we have a fully healthy Jarrett Allen who is willing to sacrifice his body to grab a rebound, while on the other we have a player in Embiid who is being really cautions with every jump he makes. Give the advantage to Allen here.
