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NBA Sunday best bets: Back Philly in bad spot for Blazers

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Sunday's NBA slate is the busiest we've seen since the season resumed, and the stakes are even higher with each passing day. Here are our best bets for Sunday.

Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics (-9.5, 221)

Can anyone stop this Celtics offense? Boston dropped 122 points on Toronto's vaunted defense Friday, bringing its offensive rating up to a league-best 121 in seeding play.

Much of that is thanks to the resurgent play of Jayson Tatum, who's averaging 27.1 points in his last 20 games on 47.3% shooting. His scoring outburst has been a boon for bettors, as the Celtics are 12-7-1 to the over across those 20 contests and 5-1 to the over in their last six.

The Magic are 18-3 to the over in their last 21 games and boasted the league's highest offensive rating (117.8) in their last 10 contests before the shutdown. They've also struggled defensively in the bubble - which is only amplified by injuries to big men Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon - so expect plenty of points from both sides in this one.

Pick: Over 221

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Portland Trail Blazers (-3.5, 229)

The emotions of Portland's loss Saturday could linger into Sunday with every game nearing must-win territory. The Blazers blew a 10-point lead to the Clippers, scoring just two points in the final 2:58 and hindering their chances of usurping the Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed.

Blown leads have come back to haunt teams in the bubble - clubs that have blown a 10-point lead or worse are 4-8 against the spread (ATS) in their next game. Saturday's loss proves especially challenging for the Blazers, who have zero days' rest to recover. Portland is 1-6 ATS this season coming off a loss the day before, while the 76ers are 7-3 ATS against teams in that exact spot.

Philly was hit with its own bad news this weekend, as star Ben Simmons exited the bubble for potential season-ending knee surgery. It's not all bad for bettors, though, as the Sixers are 5-2 ATS this season and 26-15 ATS overall when Joel Embiid plays without his All-Star running mate.

Philadelphia hasn't been the most impressive team in the bubble, but it's catching Portland in a terrible spot Sunday, and Embiid will be free to terrorize a Blazers frontcourt not known for its defensive prowess. All signs point to Philly in this one.

Pick: 76ers +3.5

C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.

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