Will Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers respond to the pressure of being down 2-0 as they head back to the City of Brotherly Love for Game 3?
The Philadelphia 76ers have been punched in the mouth twice – and bettors and fans alike are curious to see how they bounce back as their Eastern Conference second-round series with the Boston Celtics shifts to the City of Brotherly Love for Game 3 on Saturday evening. The Celtics did what they needed to do, winning the first two games at home to become a slight series favourite at -143 – but they’re considered quite a longshot to prevail in this NBA matchup.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 4 May 4:47am | BOS | -9.5 -110 | O +207.5 -110 |
| Closing 4 May 2:50pm | BOS | -9 -110 | O +206.5 -110 |
The 76ers are big-time faves in this one as they look to bounce back from a subpar effort at both ends of the court in the first two games. Oddsmakers still have tremendous faith in Philadelphia, with a six-game 76ers victory providing the best odds of any potential series outcome at +200. The 76ers have been a beast on their own court of late, successfully covering in 21 of their previous 28 games at Wells Fargo Center.
Both teams are trending heavily toward the over, an extension of a league-wide trend so far in the postseason. Boston has gone above the total in 13 of its previous 16 games overall, and is 8-1 O/U in its last nine following a straight-up victory. Philadelphia has gone over the total in eight of its previous 11 games against Eastern Conference opponents, and is a solid 4-0 O/U in its past four games after failing to cover in its previous contest.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics might have the edge in the series odds, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the “correct series score” prop. Boston is a whopping +2,200 to complete the sweep, +500 to win in five games, +900 to prevail in six games and +330 to advance in seven. That said, Boston has enjoyed tremendous success at Wells Fargo Center of late, successfully covering in six of their previous eight visits to Philadelphia.
Philadelphia 76ers
One point – that showing by electrifying point guard Ben Simmons in Game 3 was the subject of hundreds of memes – but Simmons has bounced back nicely from subpar scoring efforts as a rookie, averaging 15.6 points in nine games after being held to single digits in his previous contest. That extra scoring could make a big difference for the 76ers, who are listed at -118 to over their Game 3 team total of 107.5.
Injuries
Marcus Smart (PG)
Marcus Morris (PF)
Greg Monroe (C)
Terry Rozier (PG)
Guerschon Yabusele (PF)
Shane Larkin (PG)
Jabari Bird (SG)
Daniel Theis (PF)
Aron Baynes (C)
Al Horford (PF)
JJ Redick (SG)
Justin Anderson (SG)
Amir Johnson (C)
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (SG)
Marco Belinelli (SG)
Ersan Ilyasova (PF)
Demetrius Jackson (PG)
Jahlil Okafor (C)
Trevor Booker (PF)
T.J. McConnell (PG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Smart (PG) | Prob Thurs | Thumb - 01 / 05 / 18 | 7-4 | 5-6 | + - |
|
Smart is dealing with an injured thumb but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the 76ers. |
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| Marcus Morris (PF) | Prob Sat | Thigh - 27 / 04 / 18 | 8-5 | 6-7 | + - |
|
Morris is battling a thigh injury but is expected to be available for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks. |
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| Greg Monroe (C) | Ques Tues | Illness - 17 / 04 / 18 | 12-6 | 10-8 | + - |
|
Monroe is ailing from an illness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Bucks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Terry Rozier (PG) | Prob Sun | Finger - 12 / 04 / 18 | 13-6 | 11-8 | + - |
|
Rozier is dealing with a finger injury but is expected to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks. |
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| Guerschon Yabusele (PF) | Prob Wed | Knee - 08 / 04 / 18 | 14-8 | 14-8 | + - |
|
Yabusele has sat out the last two games due to a knee injury but is expected play Wednesday against the Nets. |
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| Shane Larkin (PG) | Prob Fri | Illness - 02 / 04 / 18 | 16-9 | 16-9 | + - |
|
Larkin has been absent from the lineup during the previous two games due to an illness but is expected to play Friday against the Bulls. |
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| Jabari Bird (SG) | Prob Sun | Back - 14 / 03 / 18 | 22-12 | 18-16 | + - |
|
Bird has missed the last two games with a back injury but is likely to play against the Pelicans on Sunday. |
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| Daniel Theis (PF) | out for season | Knee - 11 / 03 / 18 | 23-12 | 19-16 | + - |
|
Theis had season-ending surgery after suffering a torn left meniscus. |
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| Aron Baynes (C) | Prob Mon | Elbow - 23 / 02 / 18 | 28-14 | 24-17-1 | + - |
|
Baynes missed the last game with left elbow soreness but is expected to suit up for Monday's matchup with the Grizzlies. |
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| Al Horford (PF) | Ques Sat | Head - 24 / 01 / 18 | 35-19 | 30-23-1 | + - |
|
Horford sat out the last game due to a head injury and his status for Saturday's contest against the Warriors is uncertain. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JJ Redick (SG) | Prob Sat | Back - 11 / 04 / 18 | 6-5 | 6-5 | + - |
|
Redick is dealing with lower-back tightness but is expected to play against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Justin Anderson (SG) | Ques Sun | Ankle - 28 / 03 / 18 | 12-7 | 8-10-1 | + - |
|
Anderson has missed the last two games with right ankle soreness and it is unclear if he will play against the Hornets on Sunday. |
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| Amir Johnson (C) | Prob Fri | Flu - 28 / 03 / 18 | 12-7 | 8-10-1 | + - |
|
Johnson was held out of the previous game due to flu-like symptoms but will likely suit up Friday against the Hawks. |
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| Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (SG) | Out indefinitely | Knee - 13 / 03 / 18 | 17-10 | 13-13-1 | + - |
|
Luwawu-Cabarrot is sidelined with tendinitis in his right knee and there is no timetable for return. |
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| Marco Belinelli (SG) | Prob Sun | Groin - 11 / 03 / 18 | 17-11 | 13-14-1 | + - |
|
Belinelli is suffering from right groin tightness but is likely to be in the lineup Sunday against the Nets. |
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| Ersan Ilyasova (PF) | Ques Thurs | Acquired - 01 / 03 / 18 | 20-12 | 15-17-1 | + - |
|
Ilyasova was recently acquired via a trade and it is unknown if he will make his debut Thursday against the Cavaliers. |
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| Demetrius Jackson (PG) | Out indefinitely | Groin - 21 / 02 / 18 | 21-15 | 18-18-1 | + - |
|
Jackson been sidelined with a left adductor strain and there is no timetable for return. |
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| Jahlil Okafor (C) | Ques Tues | Calf - 14 / 02 / 18 | 22-15 | 18-19-1 | + - |
|
Okafor has been held out of the previous three games due to tightness in his left calf and it is undetermined if he will play against the Cavaliers on Tuesday. |
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| Trevor Booker (PF) | Ques Fri | Finger - 24 / 01 / 18 | 28-20 | 22-26-1 | + - |
|
Booker has a dislocated left middle finger and his status for Friday's matchup against the Spurs is clouded. |
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| T.J. McConnell (PG) | Prob Fri | Personal - 23 / 01 / 18 | 29-20 | 23-26-1 | + - |
|
McConnell missed the last game due to a personal matter but is expected to suit up Friday against the Spurs. |
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Celtics vs. 76ers Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 4 May 4:47am BOS -9.5 -110 O +207.5 -110 Closing 4 May 2:50pm BOS -9 -110 O +206.5 -110 -
Injuries
Marcus Smart (PG)
Prob Thurs Thumb - 01 / 05 / 18Marcus Morris (PF)
Prob Sat Thigh - 27 / 04 / 18Greg Monroe (C)
Ques Tues Illness - 17 / 04 / 18Terry Rozier (PG)
Prob Sun Finger - 12 / 04 / 18Guerschon Yabusele (PF)
Prob Wed Knee - 08 / 04 / 18Shane Larkin (PG)
Prob Fri Illness - 02 / 04 / 18Jabari Bird (SG)
Prob Sun Back - 14 / 03 / 18Daniel Theis (PF)
out for season Knee - 11 / 03 / 18Aron Baynes (C)
Prob Mon Elbow - 23 / 02 / 18Al Horford (PF)
Ques Sat Head - 24 / 01 / 18JJ Redick (SG)
Prob Sat Back - 11 / 04 / 18Justin Anderson (SG)
Ques Sun Ankle - 28 / 03 / 18Amir Johnson (C)
Prob Fri Flu - 28 / 03 / 18Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (SG)
Out indefinitely Knee - 13 / 03 / 18Marco Belinelli (SG)
Prob Sun Groin - 11 / 03 / 18Ersan Ilyasova (PF)
Ques Thurs Acquired - 01 / 03 / 18Demetrius Jackson (PG)
Out indefinitely Groin - 21 / 02 / 18Jahlil Okafor (C)
Ques Tues Calf - 14 / 02 / 18Trevor Booker (PF)
Ques Fri Finger - 24 / 01 / 18T.J. McConnell (PG)
Prob Fri Personal - 23 / 01 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Marcus Smart (PG) Prob Thurs Thumb - 01 / 05 / 18 7-4 5-6 + - Smart is dealing with an injured thumb but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the 76ers.
Marcus Morris (PF) Prob Sat Thigh - 27 / 04 / 18 8-5 6-7 + - Morris is battling a thigh injury but is expected to be available for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks.
Greg Monroe (C) Ques Tues Illness - 17 / 04 / 18 12-6 10-8 + - Monroe is ailing from an illness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Bucks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Terry Rozier (PG) Prob Sun Finger - 12 / 04 / 18 13-6 11-8 + - Rozier is dealing with a finger injury but is expected to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks.
Guerschon Yabusele (PF) Prob Wed Knee - 08 / 04 / 18 14-8 14-8 + - Yabusele has sat out the last two games due to a knee injury but is expected play Wednesday against the Nets.
Shane Larkin (PG) Prob Fri Illness - 02 / 04 / 18 16-9 16-9 + - Larkin has been absent from the lineup during the previous two games due to an illness but is expected to play Friday against the Bulls.
Jabari Bird (SG) Prob Sun Back - 14 / 03 / 18 22-12 18-16 + - Bird has missed the last two games with a back injury but is likely to play against the Pelicans on Sunday.
Daniel Theis (PF) out for season Knee - 11 / 03 / 18 23-12 19-16 + - Theis had season-ending surgery after suffering a torn left meniscus.
Aron Baynes (C) Prob Mon Elbow - 23 / 02 / 18 28-14 24-17-1 + - Baynes missed the last game with left elbow soreness but is expected to suit up for Monday's matchup with the Grizzlies.
Al Horford (PF) Ques Sat Head - 24 / 01 / 18 35-19 30-23-1 + - Horford sat out the last game due to a head injury and his status for Saturday's contest against the Warriors is uncertain.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes JJ Redick (SG) Prob Sat Back - 11 / 04 / 18 6-5 6-5 + - Redick is dealing with lower-back tightness but is expected to play against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Justin Anderson (SG) Ques Sun Ankle - 28 / 03 / 18 12-7 8-10-1 + - Anderson has missed the last two games with right ankle soreness and it is unclear if he will play against the Hornets on Sunday.
Amir Johnson (C) Prob Fri Flu - 28 / 03 / 18 12-7 8-10-1 + - Johnson was held out of the previous game due to flu-like symptoms but will likely suit up Friday against the Hawks.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (SG) Out indefinitely Knee - 13 / 03 / 18 17-10 13-13-1 + - Luwawu-Cabarrot is sidelined with tendinitis in his right knee and there is no timetable for return.
Marco Belinelli (SG) Prob Sun Groin - 11 / 03 / 18 17-11 13-14-1 + - Belinelli is suffering from right groin tightness but is likely to be in the lineup Sunday against the Nets.
Ersan Ilyasova (PF) Ques Thurs Acquired - 01 / 03 / 18 20-12 15-17-1 + - Ilyasova was recently acquired via a trade and it is unknown if he will make his debut Thursday against the Cavaliers.
Demetrius Jackson (PG) Out indefinitely Groin - 21 / 02 / 18 21-15 18-18-1 + - Jackson been sidelined with a left adductor strain and there is no timetable for return.
Jahlil Okafor (C) Ques Tues Calf - 14 / 02 / 18 22-15 18-19-1 + - Okafor has been held out of the previous three games due to tightness in his left calf and it is undetermined if he will play against the Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Trevor Booker (PF) Ques Fri Finger - 24 / 01 / 18 28-20 22-26-1 + - Booker has a dislocated left middle finger and his status for Friday's matchup against the Spurs is clouded.
T.J. McConnell (PG) Prob Fri Personal - 23 / 01 / 18 29-20 23-26-1 + - McConnell missed the last game due to a personal matter but is expected to suit up Friday against the Spurs.