Sixers-Magic play-in predictions and odds roundup: Is Philly more likely to beat Orlando or fail to make playoffs?
There are two paths for the Sixers to escape the NBA’s Play-In Tournament, and a loss to the Magic doesn’t spell the end. But some national experts see struggles ahead.
The Sixers still have some work to do if they want to make it into the NBA playoffs proper.
Sure, they’ve qualified as the Eastern Conference’s No. 7 seed in the Play-In Tournament, meaning even if they lose to the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, they’ll get a second chance to advance to the first round with a home game against the loser of the 9-10 matchup between the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat.
But wins are not automatic, especially for a Sixers team without starting center and former MVP Joel Embiid. While he’s no longer an MVP-caliber player on a nightly basis, he has shown flashes of his former self at various points this season when he was able to stay healthy, his latest stretch ended by appendicitis. So what does Embiid’s absence mean for the Sixers as they look to earn a first-round matchup with the Boston Celtics by beating Orlando?
» READ MORE: Sixers playoff predictions: Will they make it out of the Play-In Tournament? How far will they advance?
Will the Sixers make it easy and beat the Magic and move right into the playoffs? Will they take the hard way? Or will they fail to make it altogether? It depends on whom you ask. Here’s a roundup of what the media are saying about the Sixers’ chances in the Play-In Tournament and beyond …
Inquirer play-in predictions
We’ll start with out own writers and editors. All four believe the Sixers advance past the play-in — even if some didn’t sound so sure — but none think they’ll get by whatever team is waiting in the first round, whether it’s the Celtics or top-seeded Detroit Pistons. Here’s what Gina Mizell had to say about the Sixers’ matchup with Orlando:
Click here for our full playoff predictions.
National play-in predictions
CBS Sports — Four of the outlet’s six writers have Philly beating the Magic on Wednesday night. But if the Sixers do lose, none have them beating the Hornets for the No. 8 seed — a nightmare scenario for Sixers fans.
ESPN — It’s much tighter at ESPN, with just seven of its 13 experts picking the Sixers and six picking the Magic.
Sporting News — It turns out there’s more than one person who thinks the Sixers will lose two straight and be eliminated from the playoffs before they even start. The Sporting News’ Stephen Noh is also picking against the Sixers.
» READ MORE: Everything you need to know about the Sixers in the NBA playoffs: Schedule, bracket, how to watch, tickets, more
SB Nation — This might be when Sixers fans need to turn away. Yet another writer, SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell, is picking Philly to lose to Orlando and Charlotte.
USA Today — Four of its five writers are picking the Sixers to advance out of the Play-In Tournament, with three thinking they’ll beat the Magic to emerge as the No. 7 seed and one thinking they’ll fall Wednesday but beat the Hornets on Friday.
Oddsmakers’ picks
At FanDuel, the Sixers are 1.5-point favorites for Wednesday night’s game and are -120 on the moneyline, while Orlando is +102. The total is set at 222.5. Meanwhile, it’s pretty similar at DraftKings, where the Sixers (-118) are also giving a point and a half to the Magic (-102) and the point total is set one point lower at 221.5. But at BetMGM, the Sixers are 2.5-point favorites with a 222.5 total and are -125 on the moneyline.
» READ MORE: Sixers mailbag: VJ Edgecombe’s postseason role, Joel Embiid’s future and more