Good luck to anyone trying to contain the Celtics, who had four players average at least 17 points per game during the regular season.
A lot has happened in the world since the Boston Celtics kicked off their playoff run a year ago, but you can bet they haven’t forgotten what happened in their first-round meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics will look to atone for last year’s unceremonious exit as the teams kick off their Eastern Conference best-of-seven Monday night at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando – and Philadelphia is already at a major disadvantage.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Celtics sit as 5 1/2-point favourites for the series opener with a 76ers team that swept the season series, but will be without star point guard Ben Simmons indefinitely after he suffered a serious knee injury during Philadelphia’s regular-season stint in the Orlando bubble. The Celtics went just 3-4-1 ATS in the re-start but will be almost completely healthy for Monday’s series opener. The 76ers have covered just five of their previous 17 meetings with Boston
Given how several teams put up video game-like numbers during the resumption of play, it might surprise some bettors to see the Game 1 total on the low end at 218.5. And to no one’s surprise, a whopping 87 percent of Sports Interaction participants are taking the Over. The 76ers have played into that trend, with the Over having cashed in 11 of their last 14 games. These teams, however, have gone Under in four of their past six meetings.
Philadelphia 76ers
If you’re looking for an underrated player prop selection, Alec Burks might just fit the bill. Burks has plenty going for him heading into the opener of this best-of-seven series. For starters, he has averaged 20.3 points over his previous four games despite playing no more than 28 minutes in any of them. He also averaged 19.0 points in two meetings with the Celtics this season, well above his season scoring average of 15.0 ppg.
Boston Celtics
Good luck to anyone trying to contain the Celtics, who had four players average at least 17 points per game during the regular season. Boston boasted an even more balanced attack when facing Philadelphia, with six players averaging 13.3 points or more in those three meetings. Kemba Walker led the way with a 22.3 ppg scoring average vs. the 76ers, and is a savvy points prop choice against an undermanned Philly backcourt.
NBA Prediction: Who will
ia line-history]
Injuries
Tobias Harris (SF)
Alec Burks (SG)
Glenn Robinson III (SF)
Tobias Harris (SF)
Al Horford (C)
Josh Richardson (SG)
Furkan Korkmaz (SG)
Kyle O'Quinn (C)
Raul Neto (PG)
Glenn Robinson III (SF)
Romeo Langford (SG)
Jaylen Brown (SG)
Vincent Poirier (C)
Robert Williams III (C)
Tremont Waters (PG)
Javonte Green (SG)
Jaylen Brown (SG)
Gordon Hayward (SF)
Vincent Poirier (C)
Romeo Langford (SG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tobias Harris (SF) | day-to-day | Head - 23 / 08 / 20 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Harris left Sunday's game due to a head injury, and it is unclear if he will return. |
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| Alec Burks (SG) | Ques Fri | Foot - 12 / 08 / 20 | 2-4 | 3-3 | + - |
|
Burks was held out of the previous game due to left foot soreness, and it has yet to be established if he will take the court versus the Rockets on Frdiay. |
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| Glenn Robinson III (SF) | Early Sept | Oblique - 12 / 08 / 20 | 2-4 | 3-3 | + - |
|
Robinson III is battling an oblique muscle strain, and he is likely to be out until at least the beginning of September. |
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| Tobias Harris (SF) | Prob Wed | Ankle - 10 / 08 / 20 | 2-5 | 4-3 | + - |
|
Harris sat out the last game due to a sore right ankle, but it is anticipated that he will line up against the Raptors on Wednesday. |
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| Al Horford (C) | Prob Wed | Knee - 10 / 08 / 20 | 2-5 | 4-3 | + - |
|
Horford missed the previous game with a sore left knee, but it is likely that he will be available Wednesday versus the Raptors. |
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| Josh Richardson (SG) | Out Tues | Rest - 10 / 08 / 20 | 2-5 | 4-3 | + - |
|
Richardson will not suit up Tuesday against the Suns due to a day of rest. |
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| Furkan Korkmaz (SG) | Ques Sun | Finger - 08 / 08 / 20 | 3-5 | 4-4 | + - |
|
Korkmaz is bothered by a left finger sprain, and his status for Sunday's matchup with the Trail Blazers in unknown. |
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| Kyle O'Quinn (C) | Prob Wed | Personal - 03 / 08 / 20 | 3-8 | 6-5 | + - |
|
O'Quinn was held out of the last game after missing a COVID-19 test. It is not expected to affect his status for Wednesday's matchup with the Wizards. |
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| Raul Neto (PG) | Prob Sat | Back - 26 / 07 / 20 | 3-8 | 6-5 | + - |
|
Neto is experiencing tightness in his lower back, but it is unlikely to impede his status for Saturday's tilt versus the Pacers. |
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| Glenn Robinson III (SF) | Prob Sun | Hip - 26 / 07 / 20 | 3-8 | 6-5 | + - |
|
Robinson III has missed the previous four games due to a left hip pointer, but he is expected to return to action Sunday against the Trail Blazers. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romeo Langford (SG) | out for season | Wrist - 17 / 09 / 20 | 2-3 | 4-1 | + - |
|
Langford will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery to fix the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist. |
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| Jaylen Brown (SG) | Prob Tues | Groin - 12 / 09 / 20 | 3-4 | 5-2 | + - |
|
Brown is hampered by a groin injury, but he is expected to be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final versus the Heat. |
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| Vincent Poirier (C) | Prob Tues | Personal - 03 / 09 / 20 | 6-5 | 5-6 | + - |
|
Poirier is away from the team for the birth of his child. He is likely to return against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round. |
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| Robert Williams III (C) | Prob Thurs | Tailbone - 03 / 09 / 20 | 6-5 | 5-6 | + - |
|
Williams III is anticipated to take on the Raptors in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference second round despite injuring his tailbone. |
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| Tremont Waters (PG) | Prob Mon | Knee - 26 / 08 / 20 | 7-6 | 5-8 | + - |
|
Waters has a left knee sprain, but he is likely to play in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Raptors. |
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| Javonte Green (SG) | Prob Sun | Knee - 20 / 08 / 20 | 9-6 | 6-9 | + - |
|
Green is recuperating from surgery to fix a small tear to the meniscus in his right knee, but he is likely to be ready for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Heat. |
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| Jaylen Brown (SG) | Prob Wed | Thigh - 18 / 08 / 20 | 10-6 | 6-10 | + - |
|
Brown is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a right thigh contusion. |
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| Gordon Hayward (SF) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 17 / 08 / 20 | 10-7 | 6-11 | + - |
|
Hayward is sidelined with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will return to action against the Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. |
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| Vincent Poirier (C) | Prob Wed | Groin - 16 / 08 / 20 | 10-7 | 6-11 | + - |
|
Porier is battling a left groin strain, but he is likely to play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers. |
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| Romeo Langford (SG) | Prob Mon | Wrist - 13 / 08 / 20 | 11-7 | 6-12 | + - |
|
Langford is dealing with a sprained right wrist, but it is anticipated that he will take the court in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers. |
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-
Injuries
Tobias Harris (SF)
day-to-day Head - 23 / 08 / 20Alec Burks (SG)
Ques Fri Foot - 12 / 08 / 20Glenn Robinson III (SF)
Early Sept Oblique - 12 / 08 / 20Tobias Harris (SF)
Prob Wed Ankle - 10 / 08 / 20Al Horford (C)
Prob Wed Knee - 10 / 08 / 20Josh Richardson (SG)
Out Tues Rest - 10 / 08 / 20Furkan Korkmaz (SG)
Ques Sun Finger - 08 / 08 / 20Kyle O'Quinn (C)
Prob Wed Personal - 03 / 08 / 20Raul Neto (PG)
Prob Sat Back - 26 / 07 / 20Glenn Robinson III (SF)
Prob Sun Hip - 26 / 07 / 20Romeo Langford (SG)
out for season Wrist - 17 / 09 / 20Jaylen Brown (SG)
Prob Tues Groin - 12 / 09 / 20Vincent Poirier (C)
Prob Tues Personal - 03 / 09 / 20Robert Williams III (C)
Prob Thurs Tailbone - 03 / 09 / 20Tremont Waters (PG)
Prob Mon Knee - 26 / 08 / 20Javonte Green (SG)
Prob Sun Knee - 20 / 08 / 20Jaylen Brown (SG)
Prob Wed Thigh - 18 / 08 / 20Gordon Hayward (SF)
Ques Sat Ankle - 17 / 08 / 20Vincent Poirier (C)
Prob Wed Groin - 16 / 08 / 20Romeo Langford (SG)
Prob Mon Wrist - 13 / 08 / 20Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Tobias Harris (SF) day-to-day Head - 23 / 08 / 20 0-1 0-1 + - Harris left Sunday's game due to a head injury, and it is unclear if he will return.
Alec Burks (SG) Ques Fri Foot - 12 / 08 / 20 2-4 3-3 + - Burks was held out of the previous game due to left foot soreness, and it has yet to be established if he will take the court versus the Rockets on Frdiay.
Glenn Robinson III (SF) Early Sept Oblique - 12 / 08 / 20 2-4 3-3 + - Robinson III is battling an oblique muscle strain, and he is likely to be out until at least the beginning of September.
Tobias Harris (SF) Prob Wed Ankle - 10 / 08 / 20 2-5 4-3 + - Harris sat out the last game due to a sore right ankle, but it is anticipated that he will line up against the Raptors on Wednesday.
Al Horford (C) Prob Wed Knee - 10 / 08 / 20 2-5 4-3 + - Horford missed the previous game with a sore left knee, but it is likely that he will be available Wednesday versus the Raptors.
Josh Richardson (SG) Out Tues Rest - 10 / 08 / 20 2-5 4-3 + - Richardson will not suit up Tuesday against the Suns due to a day of rest.
Furkan Korkmaz (SG) Ques Sun Finger - 08 / 08 / 20 3-5 4-4 + - Korkmaz is bothered by a left finger sprain, and his status for Sunday's matchup with the Trail Blazers in unknown.
Kyle O'Quinn (C) Prob Wed Personal - 03 / 08 / 20 3-8 6-5 + - O'Quinn was held out of the last game after missing a COVID-19 test. It is not expected to affect his status for Wednesday's matchup with the Wizards.
Raul Neto (PG) Prob Sat Back - 26 / 07 / 20 3-8 6-5 + - Neto is experiencing tightness in his lower back, but it is unlikely to impede his status for Saturday's tilt versus the Pacers.
Glenn Robinson III (SF) Prob Sun Hip - 26 / 07 / 20 3-8 6-5 + - Robinson III has missed the previous four games due to a left hip pointer, but he is expected to return to action Sunday against the Trail Blazers.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Romeo Langford (SG) out for season Wrist - 17 / 09 / 20 2-3 4-1 + - Langford will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery to fix the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist.
Jaylen Brown (SG) Prob Tues Groin - 12 / 09 / 20 3-4 5-2 + - Brown is hampered by a groin injury, but he is expected to be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final versus the Heat.
Vincent Poirier (C) Prob Tues Personal - 03 / 09 / 20 6-5 5-6 + - Poirier is away from the team for the birth of his child. He is likely to return against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Robert Williams III (C) Prob Thurs Tailbone - 03 / 09 / 20 6-5 5-6 + - Williams III is anticipated to take on the Raptors in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference second round despite injuring his tailbone.
Tremont Waters (PG) Prob Mon Knee - 26 / 08 / 20 7-6 5-8 + - Waters has a left knee sprain, but he is likely to play in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Raptors.
Javonte Green (SG) Prob Sun Knee - 20 / 08 / 20 9-6 6-9 + - Green is recuperating from surgery to fix a small tear to the meniscus in his right knee, but he is likely to be ready for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Heat.
Jaylen Brown (SG) Prob Wed Thigh - 18 / 08 / 20 10-6 6-10 + - Brown is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a right thigh contusion.
Gordon Hayward (SF) Ques Sat Ankle - 17 / 08 / 20 10-7 6-11 + - Hayward is sidelined with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will return to action against the Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Vincent Poirier (C) Prob Wed Groin - 16 / 08 / 20 10-7 6-11 + - Porier is battling a left groin strain, but he is likely to play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.
Romeo Langford (SG) Prob Mon Wrist - 13 / 08 / 20 11-7 6-12 + - Langford is dealing with a sprained right wrist, but it is anticipated that he will take the court in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.