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Andrew Rogers
76ers vs. Celtics: Game 5 Prediction, NBA Playoff Odds
If any team is going to become the first to rally from a 3-0 series deficit, it might as well be the Philadelphia 76ers, who visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference second-round series. The 76ers extended the series to a fifth game with an 11-point victory last time out, and oddmakers believe they have at least a puncher’s chance of being the first team in league history to overcome a 3-0 hole to advance.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Monday’s loss marked the first time in the series that the Celtics had failed to cover – but a return home could very well remedy that. Boston is a sizzling 11-1 ATS in its past 12 games at TD Garden, and has covered four consecutive times after allowing 100 or more points in their previous outing. The 76ers have covered 16 of their previous 23 games overall, and are an impressive 10-3 ATS in their past 13 games following a straight-up win of 10 or more points.
Recent Boston home games have featured plenty of scoring, with the Celtics going above the number in 14 of their previous 17 outings at TD Garden – including the first two games of this series. And the 76ers have seen their share of high-scoring affairs outside of Philadelphia, going 5-1 O/U in their past six road contests. But both games in Philadelphia wound up under the total, prompting oddsmakers to give Game 5 the lowest number of the series.
Philadelphia 76ers
If the 76ers are going to make good on their third attempt to win in Boston as a road fave, they’ll need to be better in the second quarter. Philadelphia was outscored by 13 points in the two second quarters in Boston, but is a slight -116 favourite to reverse that trend and win the second quarter of Game 5. The 76ers’ team total of 103 is an interesting one; Philadelphia has yet to exceed that mark in the series, but has equaled it twice.
Boston Celtics
You can expect the 76ers to remain competitive to the final buzzer in this NBA matchup – making the Celtics a great play to win by a small margin. Each of their previous two wins over Philadelphia came by five or fewer points – and you’ll get +900 on a one- or two-point Boston victory in Game 5, while a three-to-six-point triumph will pay out at +500. The Celtics were 11-8 in games decided by three or fewer points in 2017-18, while Philly went 4-7.
