Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers Game 4 Prediction, NBA Odds
The Celtics took control with a decisive 114-102 win in Philadelphia in Game 3 on Friday night, and now take a 2-1 series lead into Sunday afternoon’s matchup at Wells Fargo Center.
The Celtics have now posted consecutive victories by double-digit margins since opening the series with a stunning 119-115 loss to the Sixers, but look to Game 3 favoured by just 2.5 points on the Sunday NBA odds. The 76ers are pegged as low-value +122 moneyline underdogs, and the total is listed at 214.5.
Celtics vs. 76ers NBA Betting Odds
Friday’s victory improves the Celtics to 6-2 straight up in eight dates with the Sixers since January 2022, and have gone 7-1 against the spread over that stretch. Boston also now enjoys its first three-game win streak on the road since January, and are also 5-1 in their past six when playing Game 4 on the road. The Sixers have lost three in a row just once since early December, and are 9-1 straight up in their past 10 when hosting the Celtics in a Game 4 matchup on home court.
While the Celtics are pegged as underdogs in Game 4, their win on Friday night has otherwise vaulted them into the stratosphere on the NBA odds. In addition to climbing to massive -833 favourites on the NBA playoff series prices, the Celtics are now perched as steadily improving +113 chalk on the NBA championship odds.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics set the tone early in Game 3, establishing an early double-digit lead in the first quarter. And while they allowed the Sixers to rebound and briefly claim the lead in the second period, they quickly retook control during a 19-8 run and never looked back. Jayson Tatum rebounded from an off night on offence in Game 2, dropping a team-high 27 points and adding 10 rebounds. Now leading all Boston shooters with 26.2 points per game, Tatum has also racked up team bests with 5.0 assists and 9.9 rebounds per game, and has now moved into the negative odds as -164 chalk to claim Eastern Conference Finals MVP honours.
Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid showed little ill effects of the recent knee injury that threatened to cut his playoffs short. After shaking off the rust with a middling performance in his return to action in Game 2, Embiid returned to familiar form on Friday while recording game highs with 30 points and 13 boards. However, “The Process” saw 11 of his points come from the free throw line, and enjoyed little offensive support from his Philly teammates as the Sixers converted just 39.7% from the field including a dismal 15-for-41 mark from in close. James Harden once again struggled badly while hitting just 3-for-14 for 16 points, and Tyrese Maxey has cooled off while tallying just 13 points in each of the past two games.
While Philly managed to pull close to Boston on multiple occasions in Game 3, a repeat performance on Sunday will send the series back to Boston with the Sixers facing elimination from the playoffs for the seventh time in as many second round appearances.
BOS
PHI