Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics Prediction, NBA Odds

Payton Matthews | Updated Dec 24, 2024

NBA: Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic

The middle game on the NBA’s five-game Christmas slate is a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview as the Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers.

Philadelphia
20-33
AT
December 25, 2024, 5:00 PM ET
TD Garden
Boston
38-16
Pointspread +9.5 -105
Moneyline +340
Over / Under o +223.5
Pointspread -9.5 -115
Moneyline -450
Over / Under u +223.5

Boston is a 9.5-point favourite to win on the NBA odds.

76ers vs. Celtics NBA Betting Odds

Christmas Day is the NBA’s biggest regular-season day annually, and you will only see very good teams — at least those projected to be very good when the schedule is released each summer – and/or superstar players on the holiday.

Philadelphia has a terrible record right now but because of injuries to stars Paul George and Joel Embiid, although both are back now and should be fine for Wednesday. The latter, a former league MVP, has been limited to just eight games because of multiple issues and simply rest/injury management. At full health, the Sixers are legitimate NBA title contenders. Former long-time Raptors guard Kyle Lowry is a key reserve on the team.

Boston is of course the defending NBA champion and the +240 betting favourite to repeat. The Celtics probably can plan on working Christmas for the rest of the decade. They won by double digits at the Lakers on Dec. 25, 2023.

Because it’s a unique day for the NBA, it tries to schedule marquee matchups for a first time in a season and these rivals are meeting for the first time. For a point of comparison, they had met three times by this point a year ago. The Celtics won the season series 3-1. The 5 p.m. ET window is considered reserved for the best matchup on Christmas and that’s where this sits. These clubs haven’t met on Christmas Day since the 2018-19 season.

The Celtics are 7-3 SU and ATS in the past 10 meetings.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers had superstar Joel Embiid for only 18 minutes on Monday but still managed to beat San Antonio 111-106 for a third win in four games. Embiid didn’t get injured again but was ejected for arguing with the officials but nothing that would get him suspended.

Tyrese Maxey became the offensive focal point with Embiid out and finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists and had two crucial plays down the stretch as Philly rallied. Maxey has scored at least 20 points in six straight games and since Dec. 8 is one of only five players league-wide averaging at least 25 points, five assists and 1.5 steals per game.

Paul George had 19 points but continued to really struggle from the field at 6-for-16. He has looked little like his All-Star self this year. Two key reserves/sometimes starters, forward KJ Martin and backup centre Andre Drummond, both left with minor injuries. The team lost former Rookie of the Year betting favourite Jared McCain to a knee injury not long ago, and his season might be finished. Philly is 4-1 ATS in its past five away.

Boston Celtics

Boston played without MVP candidate Jayson Tatum on Monday and still was nearly a double-digit favourite in Orlando but lost 108-104 to a Magic team missing its two best players due to injury. Tatum isn’t hurt but was dealing with an illness and you know he wants to play in a national showcase game on Christmas, and I’d expect him to. In his last game, Tatum became the first Celtic in franchise history and the 12th NBA player all-time to post a 40/15/10 triple-double. He’s +1400 for league MVP.

Jaylen Brown had 35 points, two shy of a season high, in Monday’s loss as his usage always goes way up when Tatum sits – Brown had a whopping 29 shot attempts. The Celtics are on pace to obliterate every NBA single-season mark for 3-pointers, but they weren’t falling on Monday as the C’s logged season-lows in both makes (eight) and attempts (32). Orlando is a very good defensive team. Boston has not lost back-to-back games all season but is 1-4 ATS in its past five at home.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win 76ers vs. Celtics?

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