The Philadelphia 76ers (11-10) travel to TD Garden Wednesday to take on the Boston Celtics (11-10). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the 76ers at Celtics odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Both teams are coming into this game having been relatively disappointing to start the season.
Led by MVP finalist Joel Embiid, the Sixers are 3-7 in their last 10 games. They have the eighth-best offensive rating and eighth-best true shooting percentage, so offensively, they get the job done.
Defensively is another story. It’s the opposite for Boston, who has struggled offensively yet has a top-ten ranked defense. They’re led by star F Jayson Tatum.
Boston is 12-9 ATS while Philadelphia is 9-11-1 ATS.
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76ers at Celtics odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:09 p.m. ET.
- Money line: 76ers +122 (bet $100 to win $122) | Celtics -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): 76ers +2.5 (-105) | Celtics -2.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 205.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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76ers at Celtics key injuries
76ers
- G Ben Simmons (personal) out
Celtics
- F Jaylen Brown (reconditioning) questionable
76ers at Celtics odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
76ers 103, Celtics 101
Money line
BET on the SIXERS (+122) because this team is almost back to full strength, and I like to bet the underdog’s money line when I see a value like this.
Despite the absence of Simmons, Philly is virtually the same team that the Eastern Conference last season, and earlier in the season, it was playing like it. The Sixers are 8-3 with Embiid on the court.
With Al Horford and Robert Williams down low, the Celtics give up the sixth-fewest opponents’ points in the paint. For the Sixers, shooting more threes could bode well as they rank ninth in three-point percentage.
Shooting a high volume isn’t their forte, but if they can knock them down at a high rate it would cause trouble for Boston.
Given that neither team is elite on the offensive glass nor turns the ball over, this should be a more methodical, half-court game which bodes well for the better shooting team. Philly ranks 11th in field goal percentage while Boston barely cracks the top 25.
Against the spread
“LEAN” to the SIXERS +2.5 (-105). While I like the value here, especially with the points, the solid plus-money wager on the money line seems like a smarter move.
The Sixers were 3-0 against Boston last year without a single game being decided by five or fewer points.
Over/Under
“LEAN” to the UNDER 210.5 (-108) as the better side.
Both teams rank in the bottom ten in pace. With Embiid orchestrating the offense on one end and Tatum along with two inefficient guards on the other end, I would lean against points.
This total would’ve been 1-2 in last year’s matchups. However, without Simmons to push the pace and potentially without Jaylen Brown as well, I would prefer the safer side, which feels like the Under.
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