Sports betting: Vegas Vic’s not afraid to stick with the Sixers

Our Nevada-based handicapper offers his picks and lines for Monday night playoff games.

Read more Sixers-Raptors coverage here.

LAS VEGAS - Double V is gonna change up some famous lyrics from a Simon & Garfunkel song. ‘Where have you gone Jimmy Butler, our Sixer Nation turns its lonely eyes to you ... wu, wu, wu.’

Ten points on 4 of 12 shooting ain’t gonna get it done, JB. Also need someone other than James Ennis III to show up off the bench. Not sure what it is about the Game 1 funk, but it happened in the series against the Nets as well. But the good news is Game 2. BOUNCE BACK BABY!

» MARCUS HAYES: Time for the Sixers top dogs to stop behaving like frightened pups

After losing to Brooklyn in the opener, 111-102, the Sixers came back spitting more fire than Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons in “Game of Thrones.” With a 22-point blowout, 145-123, Philly knotted that series at 1-1. Not thinking about a double digit W for the 76ers, but at plus-7, we should see a tight fit in the game and a cover for the hometown heroes.

Seeing cheaper numbers there in Philly, but in Vegas, I have to lay $55 to win back $50.

Not gonna dip into the cash reserves for the Nuggets/Blazers opener, but do have some spread numbers that might help you handicap.

» Denver opened the season series with a 113-112 win at Portland as a +1.5 point underdog, and the total went Over 214.

» The Nuggs posted another W, beating the Blazers 116-113 as a -4.5 point favorite at home (no cover), and the total went Over 216.5.

» One more win at home for Denver, with a 119-110 W as a -6 point fave, and the total went Over 216.5.

» In the final game at Portland, the Blazers finally posted a win, 115-108 as a -8.5 point fave (no cover), and the total went Over 219.5.

» Denver’s spread log sits at 45-44 overall, 27-18 at home and 32-29 as a favorite.

» The Blazers spread mark is 48-38-1 overall, 22-21 on the road and 14-17 as an underdog.

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