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Posted at 12:30 PM EST

Philadelphia +9½ -105 over Phoenix

4:30 PM EST. You do not need to wipe your computer screens or adjust your mobile, as the number you see is correct. The 32-39 Phoenix Suns have built up a Los Angeles Clipper-like market presence thanks to their ability to rock the glass slipper better than no other since the NBA’s return to play. The Suns have been flawless, going 6-0 SU and ATS in Orlando and seem to get better and better with each game they play. Last night, Los Suns looked academic, as they absolutely schooled the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 128-101 no sweat victory. With wins against Miami, Indiana, and the Clip Joint preceding that result, Phoenix has made an incredulous run that positions itself just a half-game behind Portland for the ninth-seed and just a game behind ailing Memphis who clings to the eighth seed for dear life. With two seeding games remaining for each of these three teams, should the Suns do the unthinkable, they will at minimum be looking at a strong possibility of playing into the Western Conference Playoffs as a play-in series is a guarantee at this point for the eighth seed *(please see below for explanation of how the play-in series works). The question is whether or not the Suns will get there? The market is certainly catering to the feel-good sentiment surrounding this story, but we will not be so quick to scoff up the hyperbole.

By contrast, the Philadelphia 76ers have been a liability since their return to the bubble. Though Philly has gone 3-2 SU in Orlando, they have gone just 1-4 ATS. Most recently, the Sixers were defeated 104-101 by the aforementioned Portland Trailblazers. The Sixers were actually the dog in this contest and failed to cash in by a split hair, as they closed as a 2½-point pup resulting in a seeing-eye cover for Rip City. It is worth mentioning that Portland had also established a 17-point lead in this contest and Philly managed to carve the deficit to a mere possession. While Philadelphia has clinched a playoff berth and may not have played with as much desperation as the Blazers, the Sixers can still finish with a higher seed in the Eastern Conference pecking order and perhaps set itself up with a better match-up for the first round of action should they desire to do so. This can bear fruit for the 76ers, as they can avert their present projected opponent Boston and perhaps lock horns with Miami or Indiana instead.

However, we don’t suspect that will be the reason that Philadelphia brings their best against the Suns in this spot. Quite frankly, Philly will be insulted by the line itself. After all, Philadelphia has a better record (42-28) and they have more or less owned Phoenix since they have returned to relevance, winning three of their last four against the Suns. Thanks to the Cinderella story surrounding Phoenix, we now get the better team at a better price. We expect Philly to make a game of this at minimum, if they don’t stage an upset outright. Grab the sweet points.

*The play-in series for the eighth seed occurs when the teams that occupy the eighth and ninth seed finish within four games of each other in the final seeding standings. In the East, Orlando has clinched the eighth seed with a present 7.5-game lead over the Washington Wizards, so there will be no play-in series there. In the West, Memphis is eighth, Portland is a half-game behind them in ninth, and Phoenix and San Antonio are tied a game back from the Grizzlies. New Orleans and Sacramento are eliminated, respectively. Whoever finishes with the eighth seed will compete against the ninth seed in a double-elimination series. The eighth seed only has to win one game to advance, the ninth seed has to win twice.

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