Free Play For Friday - 4/6/2007 7:00:00 PM

Toronto Raptors -1.5 -109

Toronto has won four of its past five games and has a one-game lead over the Miami Heat for the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference. This particular seed is now becoming more important since it takes on the 6th seed in the playoffs which will be the Washington Wizards, who are now without Gilbert Arenas. The 4th seed will take on 5th seeded Cleveland and no team wants a part of that right now. The Raptors have not played great on the road but they have defeated the lower-tiered teams, going 28-10 against teams outside the top 16.

Philadelphia meanwhile is just 5-18 against teams ranked in the top 10. The Sixers have been playing well but escaped on Wednesday against the Knicks as they were outrebounded by 49-28, with the minus-21 margin being their second worst of the season, outscored by 22-8 on second-chance points and missed 10 free throws. All but out of the playoff picture, coach Maurice Cheeks plans to give more playing time to rookies Rodney Carney and Bobby Jones, along with second-year man Louis Williams.

Toronto has taken the first two meetings this season with the teams splitting the rebounding numbers. Philadelphia has been on the wrong end of the rebounding battle more often than not lately and was crushed on the boards against New York and because of that, it sets up a great situation. Play against all teams where the line is +3 to -3 after a game where they were outrebounded by 20 or more boards. This situation is 54-23-1 ATS (70.1 percent) over the last five seasons with the average point differential being +4.2 ppg in those 78 games.

The Sixers defense is playing very well right now but will be facing a very hot Toronto offense so something is going to have to give. A situation is present that favors the offense and in this case Toronto. Play against underdogs after allowing 90 points or less two straight games going against an opponent coming off a game where both teams scored 105 points or more. This situation is 62-30-1 ATS (67.4 percent) since 1996 with the average point differential being +8.8 ppg in those 93 games. The Raptors have a lot to play for still and cover this very small number on Friday. Play Toronto Raptors 1 Unit

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