Warning: Undefined array key "post_type_share_twitter_account" in /var/www/vhosts/casinonewsblogger.com/public_html/wp-content/themes/cryptocurrency/vslmd/share/share.php on line 24
- The Boston Celtics are hefty 13.5-point favorites in Game 2 of their series vs the Philadelphia 76ers
- Boston has won six of the last eight meetings between these teams
- Read below for the latest 76ers vs Celtics odds and my expert prediction
It took less than 12 minutes for the Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, 22-19 away) to realize that the Boston Celtics (56-26, 30-11 home) aren’t messing around, falling behind by 15 after one quarter and losing by 32 in Game 1 of their Round 1 series.
The books don’t see a better outlook for them for Game 2 on Tuesday, as the Sixers are massive underdogs in the NBA odds against a Celtics team that’s Top 3 title contender in the latest NBA Championship odds.
Tip-off is scheduled Sunday at 7pm ET from TD Garden in Boston, with Peacock and NBC Sports Network carrying the live broadcast.
76ers vs Celtics Odds
The graphic above shows the best available odds, which are subject to change
Boston is a whopping -847 on the moneyline, courtesy of DraftKings, making them virtually unbettable. The point spread is an inflated 13.5 points, from bet365, paying out at -110 odds.
A Philly upset pays a nice +660 on the moneyline at FanDuel, and -105 for them to cover the 13.5 point spread at Caesars.
If you’re checking the total, Under bettors should head to DraftKings, where the line is set at 216.5 points, while the Over line at bet365 drops to half a point less to 216. Both sides of the total pay out at -110 odds.
76ers vs Celtics Prediction
Say what you want about Joel Embiid, who is likely out for the entire series after undergoing an emergency appendectomy at the tail end of the regular season, but his on-court presence allows the 76ers to be the best version of themselves.
Without the big man, the 76ers averaged just 112.9 points per game on the season, which ties for 25th in the NBA. With him, Philadelphia boasts a 118.1 offensive efficiency rating, a number that sits in the Top 4 of the NBA.
No team is better at exploiting weaknesses than the Celtics, and they bottled up the Sixers at every turn, holding them to 38.9% shooting, including a woeful 4-for-23 from 3-point range, a 17.4% clip.
Boston’s defense is legit, ranking first in the league in points allowed at 107.2, while limiting teams to 44.2% from the field (2nd).
They have also been able to work Jayson Tatum back into the rotation, and his rhythm alongside Jaylen Brown and the rest of the squad is shaping up nicely. Tatum had 25 points, 11 boards and seven assists in Game 1, while Jaylen Brown had 26, with all starters scoring in double figure.
In the end, I don’t think the Sixers have enough to keep up, and it’s going to take a monster Tyrese Maxey game just to keep this competitive. But Philadelphia was one of the more resilient teams in the league this season, going 22-15-0 against the spread following a loss.
Boston has won six of the last eight head-to-head matchups, and four of them were by at least 18 points. There is a stretch, though, where Philly kept the Celtics to Under 116 points for three straught games, and they went 2-1, and 2-0-1 against the spread.
After getting bowled over in Game 1, I like the idea of Philly emptying the tank in Game 2. While it won’t result in a win, it should result in the Sixers taking advantage of all those points.
76ers vs Celtics Best Bets
Pick 1: Tyrese Maxey OVER 25.5 Points (-112 at bet365)
Maybe Tyrese Maxey needed to see it up close, but he’s going to need to next level for the Sixers to have a chance in Game 2. He finished the opener with just 21 points on 8-for-20 shooting, including just 1-for-4 from 3-point range.
It’s not uncommon for him to light up the Celtics: in his last 14 games, the Sixers’ all-star has scored at least 26 points eight times.
Pick 2: Jayson Tatum OVER 9.5 Rebounds (-120 at bet365)
Jayson Tatum might not be all the way back to his dominant self, but he sure is doing whatever he can to help his team win games. While it was only a small sample size of 16 games, he averaged 10 rebounds per contest in the regular season. And his board game jumps in the postseason.
His 11-rebound performance in Game 1 is now the fifth time in nine playoff games he’s gone for double digits, and 15th time in the last 25.
Sign Up for SBD’s Newsletter Now
Did you want the latest sports betting news, analysis, picks, betting trends, and relevant data straight to your inbox? If so, you’ll want to subscribe to SBD’s newsletter now!