The Washington Wizards (10-25) and Philadelphia 76ers (19-15) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa. The game will be broadcast live on NBCS-PH.
The 76ers are 12.5-point favorites over the Wizards on the spread (76ers -12.5), with the over/under set at 235.5 total points. Philadelphia is a -560 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Washington is +480 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Wizards vs. 76ers predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, January 7.
Wizards vs 76ers Prediction
- Wizards vs 76ers pick: Wizards First Half Moneyline (+250)
My 76ers vs Wizards best bet is on Washington to win the first half, with the best price currently available at FanDuel. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Wizards vs 76ers Odds
| Wizards Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+12.5 -112 | 235.5 -110o / -110u | +480 |
| 76ers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-12.5 -108 | 235.5 -110o / -110u | -560 |
Wizards vs 76ers NBA Preview
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Washington Wizards, with the teams meeting for the third time this season. Philadelphia has taken the first two matchups, winning 139-134 in overtime in Washington on Oct. 28 and 121-102 at home on Dec. 2.
Those games followed a familiar script: the Wizards jumped out early in the opener, leading 72-68 at halftime, before the Sixers’ talent prevailed late, while Philadelphia controlled the first half in the December rematch en route to a comfortable win.
Tyrese Maxey was the star of that most recent meeting, pouring in 35 points in just 29 minutes and earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors.
Joel Embiid also remains central to everything Philadelphia does, though his status is worth monitoring as he is listed as questionable with left knee injury management and right ankle soreness. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford are also questionable, which could impact the Sixers’ rotation and early-game continuity.
Washington comes in playing some of its best basketball of the season despite a lengthy injury report.
The Wizards are 6-4 over their past 10 games and will be on the second night of a back-to-back after a 120-112 home win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.
CJ McCollum led the way with 27 points as Washington built a lead of as many as 26 in the third quarter, showing the kind of early aggression that has helped them stay competitive lately.
Kyshawn George, Corey Kispert and Cam Whitmore are all out, but the Wizards have continued to play with pace and energy, particularly in the opening half.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, is coming off a tough 125-124 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday. Embiid finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds, while Maxey added 28 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals in a high-effort performance.
Wizards vs 76ers Prediction, Betting Analysis
This matchup fits squarely into our “First Half 'Dog vs. Coasting Teams” system, which targets first-half moneyline value on underdogs facing superior teams that may be inclined to start slowly.
Philadelphia is the clearly better team overall, but the circumstances point toward a lack of early urgency. The Sixers are coming off an overtime battle, have multiple key players listed as questionable, and have already beaten Washington twice this season, all factors that can contribute to a cruise-control mindset early.
On the other side, Washington has shown a willingness to play with intensity from the opening tip, even against stronger opponents, as evidenced by its first-half lead in the October meeting and its recent stretch of competitive play.
As a short-term situation, the Wizards’ effort and focus in the first two quarters can outweigh the full-game talent gap before Philadelphia makes its usual second-half adjustments.
Pick: Wizards First Half Moneyline (+250)
