Celtics vs. 76ers Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
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Charlie Grant
The Sixers are still 2.5-point favourites for Thursday’s matchup at the Wells Fargo Center where they are 17-2 straight up this season.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Celtics lost at home on Wednesday night to the San Antonio Spurs in a drama-filled game. Kemba Walker was ejected for the first time in his nine-year NBA career, and a rowdy home fan was ejected for throwing a cup of beer on the court.
It was a second straight defeat for the C’s who fell 99-94 to the Washington Wizards on Monday despite being 9-point road chalk. Boston dropped to 2-5 against the spread in its last seven contests.
There are reasons to be optimistic for Boston backers on Thursday. The Celtics are 6-1 against the number in their last seven in the underdog role, and 4-1 ATS in their last five away games. Just about all the Boston total trends lean in favour of an Under play. The C’s have played Under the total in four of their last five games, and 16 of their last 22 as underdogs.
The Sixers ended a four-game winless streak by taking down the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, but they still failed to cover the spread. The club is still 0-4-1 ATS over its last five games and 3-6-1 in its last 10.
Philly is 2-0 SU and ATS against Boston this season with the last result coming about a month ago in Boston. The Sixers are the second favourites to win the Eastern Conference (+275 at Sports Interaction) despite being in fifth place in the East standings.
Boston Celtics
Wednesday night was Kemba Walker’s first game back since battling the flu for three games. He was on a minutes restriction – which he was able to stay well underneath after getting tossed midway through the third quarter.
Boston is a balanced squad with three different players – Jalen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Walker – averaging 20 or more points per game.
Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid will not play on Thursday because of an ugly dislocated finger he suffered during Monday’s win against OKC. The Sixers are 3-4 straight up and 2-4-1 against the spread without the Big Fella in the lineup this season.