Celtics vs. 76ers Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
Two Eastern Conference powerhouses will go head-to-head in the first game of a back-to-back when the Boston Celtics travel to Philadelphia on Wednesday to take on the 76ers. The NBA odds will depend on which players are available for the Celtics, as COVID-19 contact tracing is still being conducted for the Sixers after a Memphis Grizzlies player tested positive on Saturday following a game with Philadelphia.
Despite the sweep in last year’s playoffs, Sixers star, Joel Embiid, actually had the game-high in points for all four games.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Even with a five game win streak against the Sixers, Boston has struggled to score in Philadelphia, missing the over in eight of the last nine games on the road against the 76ers. The Celtics have been fairly even at hitting the over, this season, going 6-6 for the year and hitting the over three times on the road and three times at home. Boston has covered more than it hasn’t, this year, going 7-5 against the spread for the season, including covering four times at home and three times on the road.
Philadelphia has played much better at home, this season. They are 7-1 on their own court and have covered five times and hit the over five times in those games. The Sixers have hit the over in five of their last seven games and they are 7-6-1 ATS, this season.
Boston Celtics
Sunday saw the season debut of Celtics star guard, Kemba Walker, returning from a knee injury suffered in last year’s playoffs. Unfortunately for Boston, Walker’s return didn’t help one bit, as the Celtics would go on to get blown out 105-75 by the Knicks. Walker finished with nine points in 20 minutes of action, while Jaylen Brown led the team with 25 points, six rebounds and three assists. The only other Boston player to hit double-digit points was Marcus Smart, who dropped 10 points in the lowest scoring game for the Celtics, this season. Boston is still without leading scorer Jayson Tatum (26.9 points per game), who is in a 10-14 day quarantine, but Brown has stepped up in Tatum’s absence. Brown is averaging 23.5 points over his last four games and 25.8 points per game on the season.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers should be well rested for this game after their Sunday matchup with the Thunder was postponed after a positive COVID-19 test from a Memphis Grizzlies player. Philly dropped a 106-104 decision to the Grizzlies the night before, but the 76ers would not have been able to dress enough players against Oklahoma City on Sunday. Shake Milton led the way in the Grizzlies game, finishing with a game-high 28 points, while Tobias Harris also played well, finishing with 21 points. Ben Simmons could be a difference maker against Boston. Simmons plays a team-high 33 minutes per game, but is only averaging 12.3 points per game. He’s been good in the defensive end, but this will be a tight Eastern Conference and Simmons needs to step up offensively if the Sixers are going to start pulling away in the standings. Although it hasn’t been fully confirmed, Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers says he does expect leading scorer Joel Embiid to return on Wednesday. Embiid is averaging 25 points per game, but he has been in and out of the lineup with back and knee soreness.
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