The Boston Celtics (8-4) are in the City of Brotherly Love Wednesday for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off against the Philadelphia 76ers (9-5) at the Wells Fargo Center. Below, we analyze the Celtics-76ers NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Boston has split its previous two games following a seven-day layoff due to postponements caused by COVID-19 issues. The Celtics crushed the Orlando Magic 124-97 Friday and then got destroyed 105-75 by the New York Knicks Sunday. Both games were in Boston.
The absence of All-Star C Joel Embiid really hurt a 76ers top-10 offense during a 106-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday. The 76ers shot 28% from behind the arc and turned the ball over 23 times.
Embiid is projected to be in the starting lineup Wednesday as is SG Seth Curry, who has missed the last six games after testing positive for COVID-19. Curry was averaging an incredible 60.3% from the field and 59.5% from 3 before the hiatus. Philadelphia was 7-1 (5-2 against the spread) in its first eight games and with its full starting lineup.
The 76ers won last season’s regular-season series 3-1 (3-1 ATS) but were swept in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs by the Celtics.
Celtics at 76ers: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:42 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Celtics +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | 76ers -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Celtics +4.5 (-110) | 76ers -4.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 221.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Celtics at 76ers: Key Injuries
Celtics
- SF Jayson Tatum (COVID-19) out
76ers
- SF Mike Scott (knee) out
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Celtics at 76ers: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Celtics 111, 76ers 107
Money line (ML)
Philadelphia beating Boston in the 2019-20 season series was more of a blip on the radar than it was something to latch onto moving forward. Also, we still don’t know how 76ers will look vs. good teams.
They marched out to a 7-1 record and appeared to be an Eastern Conference contender under first-year head coach Doc Rivers. The absence of Curry has made a big difference to the 76ers and their highly anticipated regular-season meetings with the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat were minimized due to COVID-related absences.
I’m still of the thinking that Philadelphia needs to prove itself against quality competition. I lean CELTICS (+155) for a tiny wager only because the better play is Boston plus the points.
Against the spread (ATS)
The market is split currently on Celtics-76ers with a slight majority of the money (sharps) on Boston but a slight majority of the bets placed (average joes) on Philadelphia. As much as Tatum not being there hurts the Celtics in the long run, that intel is baked into this line.
Boston PG Kemba Walker made his season debut against the Knicks this past weekend and he was great in two of the Celtics’ regular-season wins over the 76ers last season. Additionally, SG Jaylen Brown is low-key playing at an All-NBA level and is probably Boston’s MVP at this point in the season.
TAKE CELTICS +4.5 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
For what it’s worth, the total has been steamed up from a 218-point opener to the current number so the market is betting the Over. I lean UNDER 221.5 (-110) initially because four of the past six Celtics-76ers games have gone Under the total, but the market movement makes me PASS ON THE TOTAL.
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Also see:
- Time Lord likely vs. 76ers, per Stevens; Tatum, Edwards out Wednesday (Celtics Wire)
- Rivers doesn’t care about Simmons’ offensive decline just yet (Sixers Wire)
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