Sixers vs. Suns NBA expert prediction and odds for Wednesday, March 20 (Trust the Phoenix offense)

Philadelphia continues to cling to a half-game lead over the Indiana Pacers for the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference with Joel Embiid (knee) on the mend. The Sixers are coming off back-to-back wins at home, but start a four-game west coast road trip Wednesday night against the Phoenix Suns. 

Phoenix is just 4-5 straight up in March after getting blown out (140-129) by the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday night.

The Suns are returning home after a four-game road trip and are looking to climb the Western Conference standings with less than a month left in the regular season. Phoenix is a half-game back of No. 7 Dallas and No. 6 Sacramento. Can they win with margin against the visiting Sixers?

Here’s the betting preview of the cross-conference matchup with a best bet. 

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Sixers vs. Suns odds, spread and total

Sixers vs. Suns how to watch

• Date: Wednesday, March 20
• Game time: 10 p.m. EST
• Venue: Footprint Center
• How to watch (TV): Bally Sports
• Sixers record: 38-30
• Suns record: 39-29

Sixers vs. Suns injury report

Philadelphia 76ers

• Kai Jones (hamstring): out
• Tobias Harris (ankle): questionable

Phoenix Suns

• Josh Okogie (abdomen): out
• Bol Bol (ankle): probable

Sixers vs. Suns key players to watch

Philadelphia 76ers

Tyrese Maxey: It was obvious that Maxey’s usage would go up while carrying the majority of the weight for Philadelphia with Embiid sidelined for multiple weeks. Maxey, who is top-20 in the NBA in both scoring and assists, is averaging 27.3 points per game in March, the most of any month this season. He has scored 30 points in three consecutive games and was two rebounds shy of a triple-double in Monday’s win over the Miami Heat (30 points, 10 assists).

Phoenix Suns

Bradley Beal: Beal missed the final two weeks of February and returned to the Suns’ lineup March 2. He has averaged 20.9 points per game in March and is shooting 54.4% from the field. In Sunday’s loss to Milwaukee, he was the Suns’ leading scorer for just the second time this month, finishing with 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting. 

Sixers vs. Suns prediction and pick

Philadelphia was able to beat up on two of the lowest ranked offenses, per net rating, over its last two games in Charlotte (No. 29) and Miami (No. 24). It’s a different story in the desert Wednesday night against a Phoenix offense that is happy to be home for a few games.

The Suns are No. 7 in effective field goal percentage (56.3%) and are a top-10 three-point shooting team, as well. Down low, the Suns are No. 8 in the NBA in 2-point shooting and can take advantage of a Philadelphia defense that no longer has elite rim protection and ranks No. 20 in points in the paint allowed on the road. 

Without Embiid’s help near the basket, Philadelphia has slipped to No. 24 in offensive rebounds allowed per game (11.1) and the Suns are No. 8 in the league in creating second-chance opportunities.

Overall, the matchup is just too sweet for a Phoenix offense with three elite scorers against a Philadelphia defense that is missing the reigning MVP and could be without Tobias Harris, too. Trust the Suns’ offense to light up the scoreboard against a Philadelphia defense lacking the firepower to keep up. 

Game odds update periodically and are subject to change.