76ers vs Clippers picks, predictions, odds 2024/3/24

The Philadelphia 76ers continue to struggle to maintain a chance at the NBA playoffs without Joel Embiid. Philly, who hasn't appeared in the All-Star Game since January 30, will have a tough battle against a Los Angeles Clippers team aiming to play in the NBA Championship.

NBA odds are 10 points behind the Clippers at home, and LA's star-studded cast should have a great night. But it's the unsung heroes of the starting lineup that could have a bigger impact on the 76ers without Embiid.

Find out where my best bet lies in my 76ers vs. Clippers NBA picks and predictions for Sunday, March 24th.

76ers vs Clippers odds

76ers vs Clippers prediction

Without Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers are slowly slipping away in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The 76ers, who have lost 15 of their past 24 games and sit in the No. 8 seed, are an empty shell without their reigning MVP.

Not only does Embiid lead the NBA in scoring (35.3) and PER (34.68), he also ranks sixth in rebounding. Without his scoring ability, coach Nick Nurse has relied more on All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, who ranks 14th in the NBA in points per game (25.8 points). However, there is a distinct lack of presence at the bottom.

Embiid was the anchor of Philadelphia's defense, averaging 1.8 blocks and 8.7 defensive rebounds per game. Without him, the 76ers struggle to close that gap and their rebounding has stagnated. Tobias Harris is the second-leading rebounder after a seven-time All-Star, with just 6.3 rebounds per game.

Nurse relies on a platoon of centers Paul Reed and Mo Bamba, who combine for 9.7 rebounds per game, but it's clear they're not a long-term solution.

For now, Philadelphia will have to continue to rely on its bench, which will be difficult against the Los Angeles Clippers. Los Angeles has several future Hall of Famers, and center Ivica Zubac has a chance to perform well this afternoon against Philadelphia.

Zubac may not make the headlines, but he's an integral part of this team's championship aspirations. Even if he doesn't perform as amazing without Embiid, he's poised to pile up rebounds and give an advantage to a Philadelphia team that struggles to pull down the boards.

Without Embiid, the 76ers fell to 20th in the NBA in rebounds per game (42.6) and 26th in defensive rebounds per game (31.6). As a result, they allow their opponents to yield the seventh-most rebounds (44.7) and fourth-most offensive rebounds (11.1) per game.

This opens up the possibility for Zubac to clean the glass and finish with at least 10 rebounds. The 27-year-old leads the Clippers in rebounds with 9.1 per game, ranking him 25th in the league in contested rebounding percentage among players who have appeared in at least 40 games this season.

Zubac should be able to take advantage of a Philadelphia team that is allowing 14.13 rebounds per game to centers this year.

my best bet: Ivica Zubac over 9.5 rebounds (+105 with bet 365)

76ers vs Clippers same game parlay

Ivica Zubac 9.5 rebounds or more

Ivica Zubac 9.5+

Tyrese Maxey 25.5 points or more

Not only does Zubac have a chance to show off his rebounding ability in this matchup, but he can also add a little scoring to the mix. He is averaging 11.3 points per game this season and will face a 76ers team that is allowing the seventh-most points per game (23.89 points) to a center this season.

The hole left by Embiid goes beyond just the center field, and Maxey will have to play a bigger role in reinvigorating Philadelphia's offense this season. As a result, he is averaging a career-high 25.8 points per game and has scored at least 27 points in four of his last five games.

Maxey should continue to put up impressive numbers against a Clippers defense that has allowed the 10th-most points per game to point guards this season (25.17 points per game). He has scored 26 points or more 30 times in 61 games this season (49.1%).

Learn how to bet on same game parlays with these helpful tips and strategies.

76ers vs. Clippers spread and over/under analysis

Without Embiid, the 76ers opened the season as a 9.5-point underdog against the Clippers. There was some line movement leading up to the game, and most books list the Clippers as -10.

Despite being one of the NBA's top contenders, LA is just 34-35 ATS this season and 3-7 in their last 10 games. Philadelphia, on the other hand, has a respectable ATS record of 37-33 and has managed to cover him in three of his last four games.

Without Embiid, the game total started as low as 215 and dropped as low as 214.5 in some books. Both defenses rank in the top 10 in points allowed per game.

Few teams have bet on the over as much as the Clippers, who are just 28-38-2 this season, but they have gone over in six of their past nine games. The 76ers are betting on the over at just 35-35, which ranks him ninth in the NBA this season.

76ers vs. Clippers betting trends you need to know

The Clippers have reached the under in 36 of their last 64 games (+7.40 units / 11% ROI). See more 76ers vs. Clippers NBA betting trends.

76ers vs Clippers match information

76ers vs Clippers Latest Injuries

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