After cruising past Miami in the first round, the Philadelphia 76ers open as favourites for Game 1 in Boston on Monday night.
Forget being happy to be here – the Philadelphia 76ers have every intention of getting to the Eastern Conference final, and oddsmakers like their chances as they kick off their second-round series Monday night in Boston. Philadelphia is coming off a sensational five-game drubbing of the Miami Heat, while the Celtics needed seven tough games to dispatch the Milwaukee Bucks – and are +298 underdogs to prevail in the series despite having home-court advantage.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 29 Apr 7:25am | PHI | -2.5 -110 | O +210 -110 |
| Closing 1 May 12:10am | PHI | -5 -110 | O +205 -110 |
The Celtics were expected to get this far heading into the season, but it’s a minor miracle that they’ve lasted this long after losing Gordon Hayward for nearly the entire season and Kyrie Irving for the remainder of the campaign. But Boston has been a terrific betting option heading into Game 1, having covered five straight home games while going 6-2 ATS in its last eight overall. Philadelphia, however, has been even better, going 5-1 ATS in its last six.
The Celtics enter Round 2 as one of the hottest over plays in the league; they’ve gone 9-2 O/U in their previous 11 games overall, and have gone above the number in seven of their last eight games at TD Garden. The 76ers have converted the under in 13 of their previous 18 road games against teams with winning home records but have come out shooting when well-rested, going 5-1 ATS in their past six outings with three or more days off.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Process might not be 100 percent complete, but it’s a lot closer than it was this time last year. The 76ers have gone from league laughingstock to an unthinkable +450 to sweep the Celtics out of the postseason. Oddsmakers have the Sixers installed at +300 to prevail in five games, +240 to in in six games and +550 to outlast the Celtics in seven games. Philadelphia has successfully covered four of its previous five games in Boston heading into Monday’s NBA matchup.
Boston Celtics
Bettors who still have faith in the Celtics to advance to Round 3 are being rewarded with big odds; Boston is +700 to beat Philadelphia in seven games, +1,400 to upend the 76ers in five or six games and an unfathomable +5,000 to pull off a sweep. Boston goes into Game 1 with a team total of 102.5; it went above 110 points in three of its seven games against Milwaukee, but was held below 95 points in three others.
Injuries
JJ Redick (SG)
Justin Anderson (SG)
Amir Johnson (C)
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (SG)
Marco Belinelli (SG)
Ersan Ilyasova (PF)
Demetrius Jackson (PG)
Jahlil Okafor (C)
Trevor Booker (PF)
T.J. McConnell (PG)
Marcus Smart (PG)
Marcus Morris (PF)
Greg Monroe (C)
Terry Rozier (PG)
Guerschon Yabusele (PF)
Shane Larkin (PG)
Jabari Bird (SG)
Daniel Theis (PF)
Aron Baynes (C)
Al Horford (PF)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JJ Redick (SG) | Prob Sat | Back - 11 / 04 / 18 | 6-5 | 6-5 | + - |
|
Redick is dealing with lower-back tightness but is expected to play against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Justin Anderson (SG) | Ques Sun | Ankle - 28 / 03 / 18 | 12-7 | 8-10-1 | + - |
|
Anderson has missed the last two games with right ankle soreness and it is unclear if he will play against the Hornets on Sunday. |
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| Amir Johnson (C) | Prob Fri | Flu - 28 / 03 / 18 | 12-7 | 8-10-1 | + - |
|
Johnson was held out of the previous game due to flu-like symptoms but will likely suit up Friday against the Hawks. |
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| Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (SG) | Out indefinitely | Knee - 13 / 03 / 18 | 17-10 | 13-13-1 | + - |
|
Luwawu-Cabarrot is sidelined with tendinitis in his right knee and there is no timetable for return. |
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| Marco Belinelli (SG) | Prob Sun | Groin - 11 / 03 / 18 | 17-11 | 13-14-1 | + - |
|
Belinelli is suffering from right groin tightness but is likely to be in the lineup Sunday against the Nets. |
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| Ersan Ilyasova (PF) | Ques Thurs | Acquired - 01 / 03 / 18 | 20-12 | 15-17-1 | + - |
|
Ilyasova was recently acquired via a trade and it is unknown if he will make his debut Thursday against the Cavaliers. |
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| Demetrius Jackson (PG) | Out indefinitely | Groin - 21 / 02 / 18 | 21-15 | 18-18-1 | + - |
|
Jackson been sidelined with a left adductor strain and there is no timetable for return. |
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| Jahlil Okafor (C) | Ques Tues | Calf - 14 / 02 / 18 | 22-15 | 18-19-1 | + - |
|
Okafor has been held out of the previous three games due to tightness in his left calf and it is undetermined if he will play against the Cavaliers on Tuesday. |
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| Trevor Booker (PF) | Ques Fri | Finger - 24 / 01 / 18 | 28-20 | 22-26-1 | + - |
|
Booker has a dislocated left middle finger and his status for Friday's matchup against the Spurs is clouded. |
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| T.J. McConnell (PG) | Prob Fri | Personal - 23 / 01 / 18 | 29-20 | 23-26-1 | + - |
|
McConnell missed the last game due to a personal matter but is expected to suit up Friday against the Spurs. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Smart (PG) | Prob Thurs | Thumb - 01 / 05 / 18 | 7-4 | 5-6 | + - |
|
Smart is dealing with an injured thumb but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the 76ers. |
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| Marcus Morris (PF) | Prob Sat | Thigh - 27 / 04 / 18 | 8-5 | 6-7 | + - |
|
Morris is battling a thigh injury but is expected to be available for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks. |
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| Greg Monroe (C) | Ques Tues | Illness - 17 / 04 / 18 | 12-6 | 10-8 | + - |
|
Monroe is ailing from an illness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Bucks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Terry Rozier (PG) | Prob Sun | Finger - 12 / 04 / 18 | 13-6 | 11-8 | + - |
|
Rozier is dealing with a finger injury but is expected to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks. |
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| Guerschon Yabusele (PF) | Prob Wed | Knee - 08 / 04 / 18 | 14-8 | 14-8 | + - |
|
Yabusele has sat out the last two games due to a knee injury but is expected play Wednesday against the Nets. |
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| Shane Larkin (PG) | Prob Fri | Illness - 02 / 04 / 18 | 16-9 | 16-9 | + - |
|
Larkin has been absent from the lineup during the previous two games due to an illness but is expected to play Friday against the Bulls. |
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| Jabari Bird (SG) | Prob Sun | Back - 14 / 03 / 18 | 22-12 | 18-16 | + - |
|
Bird has missed the last two games with a back injury but is likely to play against the Pelicans on Sunday. |
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| Daniel Theis (PF) | out for season | Knee - 11 / 03 / 18 | 23-12 | 19-16 | + - |
|
Theis had season-ending surgery after suffering a torn left meniscus. |
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| Aron Baynes (C) | Prob Mon | Elbow - 23 / 02 / 18 | 28-14 | 24-17-1 | + - |
|
Baynes missed the last game with left elbow soreness but is expected to suit up for Monday's matchup with the Grizzlies. |
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| Al Horford (PF) | Ques Sat | Head - 24 / 01 / 18 | 35-19 | 30-23-1 | + - |
|
Horford sat out the last game due to a head injury and his status for Saturday's contest against the Warriors is uncertain. |
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76ers vs. Celtics Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 29 Apr 7:25am PHI -2.5 -110 O +210 -110 Closing 1 May 12:10am PHI -5 -110 O +205 -110 -
Injuries
JJ Redick (SG)
Prob Sat Back - 11 / 04 / 18Justin Anderson (SG)
Ques Sun Ankle - 28 / 03 / 18Amir Johnson (C)
Prob Fri Flu - 28 / 03 / 18Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (SG)
Out indefinitely Knee - 13 / 03 / 18Marco Belinelli (SG)
Prob Sun Groin - 11 / 03 / 18Ersan Ilyasova (PF)
Ques Thurs Acquired - 01 / 03 / 18Demetrius Jackson (PG)
Out indefinitely Groin - 21 / 02 / 18Jahlil Okafor (C)
Ques Tues Calf - 14 / 02 / 18Trevor Booker (PF)
Ques Fri Finger - 24 / 01 / 18T.J. McConnell (PG)
Prob Fri Personal - 23 / 01 / 18Marcus Smart (PG)
Prob Thurs Thumb - 01 / 05 / 18Marcus Morris (PF)
Prob Sat Thigh - 27 / 04 / 18Greg Monroe (C)
Ques Tues Illness - 17 / 04 / 18Terry Rozier (PG)
Prob Sun Finger - 12 / 04 / 18Guerschon Yabusele (PF)
Prob Wed Knee - 08 / 04 / 18Shane Larkin (PG)
Prob Fri Illness - 02 / 04 / 18Jabari Bird (SG)
Prob Sun Back - 14 / 03 / 18Daniel Theis (PF)
out for season Knee - 11 / 03 / 18Aron Baynes (C)
Prob Mon Elbow - 23 / 02 / 18Al Horford (PF)
Ques Sat Head - 24 / 01 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes JJ Redick (SG) Prob Sat Back - 11 / 04 / 18 6-5 6-5 + - Redick is dealing with lower-back tightness but is expected to play against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Justin Anderson (SG) Ques Sun Ankle - 28 / 03 / 18 12-7 8-10-1 + - Anderson has missed the last two games with right ankle soreness and it is unclear if he will play against the Hornets on Sunday.
Amir Johnson (C) Prob Fri Flu - 28 / 03 / 18 12-7 8-10-1 + - Johnson was held out of the previous game due to flu-like symptoms but will likely suit up Friday against the Hawks.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (SG) Out indefinitely Knee - 13 / 03 / 18 17-10 13-13-1 + - Luwawu-Cabarrot is sidelined with tendinitis in his right knee and there is no timetable for return.
Marco Belinelli (SG) Prob Sun Groin - 11 / 03 / 18 17-11 13-14-1 + - Belinelli is suffering from right groin tightness but is likely to be in the lineup Sunday against the Nets.
Ersan Ilyasova (PF) Ques Thurs Acquired - 01 / 03 / 18 20-12 15-17-1 + - Ilyasova was recently acquired via a trade and it is unknown if he will make his debut Thursday against the Cavaliers.
Demetrius Jackson (PG) Out indefinitely Groin - 21 / 02 / 18 21-15 18-18-1 + - Jackson been sidelined with a left adductor strain and there is no timetable for return.
Jahlil Okafor (C) Ques Tues Calf - 14 / 02 / 18 22-15 18-19-1 + - Okafor has been held out of the previous three games due to tightness in his left calf and it is undetermined if he will play against the Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Trevor Booker (PF) Ques Fri Finger - 24 / 01 / 18 28-20 22-26-1 + - Booker has a dislocated left middle finger and his status for Friday's matchup against the Spurs is clouded.
T.J. McConnell (PG) Prob Fri Personal - 23 / 01 / 18 29-20 23-26-1 + - McConnell missed the last game due to a personal matter but is expected to suit up Friday against the Spurs.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Marcus Smart (PG) Prob Thurs Thumb - 01 / 05 / 18 7-4 5-6 + - Smart is dealing with an injured thumb but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the 76ers.
Marcus Morris (PF) Prob Sat Thigh - 27 / 04 / 18 8-5 6-7 + - Morris is battling a thigh injury but is expected to be available for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks.
Greg Monroe (C) Ques Tues Illness - 17 / 04 / 18 12-6 10-8 + - Monroe is ailing from an illness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Bucks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Terry Rozier (PG) Prob Sun Finger - 12 / 04 / 18 13-6 11-8 + - Rozier is dealing with a finger injury but is expected to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks.
Guerschon Yabusele (PF) Prob Wed Knee - 08 / 04 / 18 14-8 14-8 + - Yabusele has sat out the last two games due to a knee injury but is expected play Wednesday against the Nets.
Shane Larkin (PG) Prob Fri Illness - 02 / 04 / 18 16-9 16-9 + - Larkin has been absent from the lineup during the previous two games due to an illness but is expected to play Friday against the Bulls.
Jabari Bird (SG) Prob Sun Back - 14 / 03 / 18 22-12 18-16 + - Bird has missed the last two games with a back injury but is likely to play against the Pelicans on Sunday.
Daniel Theis (PF) out for season Knee - 11 / 03 / 18 23-12 19-16 + - Theis had season-ending surgery after suffering a torn left meniscus.
Aron Baynes (C) Prob Mon Elbow - 23 / 02 / 18 28-14 24-17-1 + - Baynes missed the last game with left elbow soreness but is expected to suit up for Monday's matchup with the Grizzlies.
Al Horford (PF) Ques Sat Head - 24 / 01 / 18 35-19 30-23-1 + - Horford sat out the last game due to a head injury and his status for Saturday's contest against the Warriors is uncertain.