76ers-Raptors Preview: NBA Injuries Shake Betting Lines

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

Back-to-Back Games, Injuries and Load Management Complicate the NBA Season

The first Sixers-Raptors meeting of the season arrives with neither LeBron nor Kawhi Leonard playing. It is another example of how the NBA schedule, injuries and player availability can affect regular-season games.

Back-to-back games remain a major issue. Injuries happen, and they appear to be happening frequently this year, but the number of back-to-backs can taint the regular season. For bettors, few things move a line more than a team playing on the second night of a back-to-back. That situation can be worth an immediate three-point adjustment, partly because prominent players are expected to miss games.

The point spreads also show how difficult NBA handicapping has become. Upcoming lines include 17.5, 13.5, 10.5 and 7.5 points, with 7.5 sometimes viewed as a competitive matchup in the modern NBA. The Hawks and Bulls are also listed at 6.5, reinforcing how tricky the nightly handicap can be.

The biggest losers are the fans. Phil Jackson recently discussed load management and said Jordan understood that visiting a city once a year might be the only opportunity for people there to see him play. Modern players sometimes pick their spots, prioritizing certain venues or matchups while sitting out others.

Luka recently missed a game in Detroit before playing in Atlanta, where he feels the Hawks passed on him. Clips later showed him yelling at fans, “Don’t you wish you had me?” It was another example of a player choosing a meaningful spot.

However, not every absence is load management. Steph Curry was one of the five best players in the NBA to begin the season, and now he is out for a month because he is hurt. Players across every category are dealing with injuries: rookies and veterans, big men and guards.

There is no single explanation that covers the injury problem. It is not limited to older players or centers with bad knees. Even the Cale Wilson kid got hurt. Everybody seems to be getting injured, raising the question of how many players will remain available by Christmas, often considered the unofficial start of the NBA season.

For teams such as the Raptors, with Barnes and Kawhi injured, it may be better for these issues to occur now rather than in March or April. Injuries appear inevitable, so teams can only hope the timing works in their favor.