Phoenix Suns vs Philadelphia 76ers 2/8/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Live Stream

Phoenix Suns vs Philadelphia 76ers Matchup Preview (2/8/22)

The Phoenix Suns travel to Wells Fargo Center to take on the Philadelphia 76ers in a potential Finals matchup. The Suns are 9-1 in their last ten and 13-2 over their last fifteen games (before the Bulls game). Currently, the Suns are 1st in the Western Conference with only the Golden State Warriors on their heels. They are using the same formula that got them to the Finals last season: Paul playmaking, Booker scoring, elite defense and shooting. In their 95-80 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday, the stifling defense suffocated the Wizards. The final score is much closer than the actual flow of the game; the Suns were up 34 points heading into the final frame. The Wizards shot 35.3% from the field and 20.8% from three for the game, and they only scored 11 points in the 2nd quarter and 19 points in the 3rd. Booker took a backseat in the scoring department; he only produced 11 points – his season-low in games where he played 20+ minutes. Deandre Ayton stole the show with a monster double-double of 20 points and 16 rebounds. For their game against the 76ers, Cameron Payne is a game time decision. Elfrid Payton will continue to fill in for Payne as the lead guard off the bench if Payne cannot play. 

The 76ers are only a couple games back of the 1st seed in the East. They are on a roll thanks to Embiid’s MVP-caliber play. In their last ten games, the 76ers are 7-3 with the 8th best Offensive Rating and 13th best Defensive Rating. On Sunday, the 76ers defeated the Bulls 119-108, a crucial game for potential tie-breakers. The contest featured one of the best duels of the season so far with Embiid going for 40 points and 10 rebounds, while DeRozan produced 45 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. Tobias Harris found his stroke and scored 23 points on 10/15 from the field. He also contributed 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. The 76ers need Harris to live up to his contract and continue these scoring nights. The team does not have a clear-cut 2nd option behind Embiid – it varies every night between Maxey, Curry, and Harris. Their championship odds will be boosted if Harris fills in this role, just like Khris Middleton did for the Bucks last season. Against the Suns, Matisse Thybulle is a game time decision. If he cannot play, the bench will rely on Furkan Korkmaz and Georges Niang at the wing position.

Phoenix Suns vs Philadelphia 76ers Betting Odds

This will be the first meeting this season between them. Over the last ten games, the Suns are averaging 114.3 PPG and scored less than 110 points only three times. Meanwhile, the 76ers are averaging 110.6 PPG, but they have scored 105 points or less in five of those games. Both teams are very good both offensively and defensively which will make the game must-watch television. Overall, I like the Suns roster as a whole better than the 76ers roster. The 76ers are too reliant on Embiid, and the offense stagnates at times. Booker can match Embiid in the scoring department, and when the depth chart is examined without those two, the Suns look complete and more talented. Embiid is transcendent currently, so look for the 76ers to keep it extremely close throughout. The spread is at -2.5 76ers right now, and the moneyline for the Suns is at +120. I like the Suns to win the game in the 4th quarter, and +120 seems like a bargain. 

Prediction: Suns win 113-108 | 76ers do not cover -2 | Over 217.5

Leading Scorers: Booker 31 PTS | Embiid 36 PTS

TV Schedule

Date: 2/8/22
Time: 10:30 PM ET
Arena: Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA
Channel: NBA League Pass

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Phoenix Suns Starting Lineup

PG: Chris Paul
SG: Devin Booker
SF: Mikal Bridges
PF: Jae Crowder
C: Deandre Ayton

Phoenix Suns Analysis

The Suns will have one name circled on the board ahead of this matchup: Joel Embiid. Over his last ten games, Embiid is averaging 35.8 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 4.5 APG, and 1.7 BPG. Deandre Ayton is an above-average center with a bright future, but Embiid is too much for him to handle. Giannis throttled Ayton in the Finals last year, and I expect Embiid to do the same. Ayton will get his double-double, but Embiid will score at will. The Suns have two choices: double Embiid and concede open shots to Seth Curry (40.6 3PT%), Danny Green (38.9 3PT%), and Tyrese Maxey (40.7 3PT%), or attempt to shut down the others while Embiid gets 40. 

If Matisse Thybulle misses the game, Devin Booker will breathe a sigh of relief. At 26.3 MPG, Thybulle is averaging 1.8 SPG and 1.1 BPG. Thybulle is destined to at least make the All-Defensive 2nd team, although he belongs on the 1st team. Without him roaming the court, the Suns can exploit Curry’s suspect isolation defense through Booker (25.2 PPG). The Suns will rely heavily on Chris Paul to orchestrate the offense and rack up easy assists. They would be wise to lure Embiid out to the perimeter on the pick and roll since Embiid is a devastating rim protector. The 76ers are 1st at defending the roll man, but they are 22nd at defending the pick and roll ball handler. I expect the Point God to slice through this 76ers defense and hit a variety of mid range shots. Ayton will not repeat his 20 and 16 performance because of Embiid’s rim protection, but Ayton can pressure the rim and force the 76ers to struggle against the pick and roll all night.

Philadelphia 76ers Starting Lineup

PG: Tyrese Maxey
SG: Seth Curry
SF: Danny Green
PF: Tobias Harris
C: Joel Embiid

Philadelphia 76ers Analysis

The 76ers will be glued to the Suns perimeter threats all night: Mikal Bridges (37.5 3PT%), Cameron Johnson (43.7 3PT%), and Devin Booker (36.9 3PT%). Thybulle’s availability is murky, but his return would be a boon for a 76ers team lacking in perimeter defenders. Maxey is an average defender, and Seth Curry is below-average. Danny Green can still affect shots and play good defense, but at 34-years-old, he is not the player he once was. The 76ers can feel comfortable knowing that Embiid will limit the Suns in the paint; they need to stop spot up shooters and force the Suns to score in bunches of two-point shots, not threes. This would allow the 76ers to gain the edge with their own three-point firepower and potentially break away from the Suns. 

The 76ers should force Chris Paul to beat them through scoring and not playmaking. Paul, while efficient, has never been a volume scorer. His value lies in creating slightly better shots for players than other point guards can. Over the course of a game, this aggregates into a substantial advantage. The 76ers game plan should be to stick to the three point shooters and trust Embiid to neutralize the pick and roll enough to keep the 76ers in the game. If the 76ers lose because Paul dropped 30 points and Ayton chipped in 20, then so be it. They cannot, however, allow Booker, Johnson, and Bridges to rain threes down on them.

Phoenix Suns vs Philadelphia 76ers Daily Fantasy Picks

For this matchup, the stars will prevail with monster games. Devin Booker will continue to get an enormous amount of touches and shots. I like Booker to go for 30+ points and terrorize the 76ers defense. Joel Embiid is a must play every single time he steps onto the court. There is no stopping him and not playing him in fantasy only hinders your chance of success. He will have a hefty price tag, but his production is worth it. One under the radar name to watch is Cameron Johnson. He is averaging 12.6 PPG on 43.1 3PT% over his last ten games. However, he can get scorching hot from deep and drop 20+ points anytime. Johnson is a risky pick, but that is the essence of having a cheap price tag.