Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers Game 6: Prediction, Odds For 2019 NBA Playoff Series

The perception of the second-round series between the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers completely changed over the course of about 60 hours.

Philadelphia was in complete control with a 2-1 series lead, and Toronto’s second-best player was considered doubtful for a virtual must-win Game 4 on the road. Ahead of Game 6 Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center, the Raptors look ready to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The 76ers have lost two straight games amid shockingly poor performances from Joel Embiid. The player that dominated Philadelphia’s Game 3 victory totaled just 24 points, 14 rebounds and 10 turnovers while battling an illness.

Ben Simmons has been nowhere to be found all series long. Tobias Harris can’t hit a three-pointer, and Jimmy Butler’s playmaking has been outshined by Kawhi Leonard’s incredible shot-making.

How much of that will continue for a third straight contest?

It should be more of the same for Simmons and Leonard. Philadelphia’s point guard has brought little to the table with his inability to score outside of the paint, putting up 10 points or fewer in four straight games. Leonard has been just about unstoppable all postseason long with 31.2 points per game on 57.4 percent shooting.

Embiid is the big wild card. He’s been great when his health has permitted, going for at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks twice in the playoffs. The center hasn’t come close to reaching those numbers in four of the five games against Toronto.

A subpar Embiid outing didn’t stop the 76ers from winning Game 2. Philadelphia won 94-89 on the road as the non-Leonard Raptors shot a combined 20-66 from the floor.

Toronto’s role players might be as just likely to have a Game 6 dud as Embiid. They were simply bad in Game 2 and Game 3 before being competent in Game 4 and rising to the challenge in Game 5.

Kyle Lowry scored 19 points Tuesday, but he hasn’t scored more than 14 points in two straight games this postseason. Serge Ibaka totaled 13 points in the first three games of the series. The Raptors are still waiting for Danny Green to string together consecutive good shooting nights.

Leonard was barely able to carry Toronto to a victory in Game 4. If Embiid is even a little better and Harris starts to make some open shots, Philadelphia will have a good chance to stave off elimination for another night.

The Raptors are two-point road favorites, according to the betting line at OddsShark, and the total is 213.5.

Neither team has looked to be in control of this series for too long. It only makes sense that it will be decided in a Game 7.

Game 6 Prediction: Philadelphia over Toronto, 108-102