The Philadelphia 76ers (11-10) and Boston Celtics (11-10) will square off at the TD Garden in Boston, MA, on Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 P.M. EST.
Both Boston and Philadelphia enter Wednesday fresh off of victories. The Celtics defeated the Toronto Raptors on Sunday 109-97, while the Sixers downed the Orlando Magic by a final score of 101-96 on Monday.
Both teams are hopeful those wins can carry momentum into Wednesday’s matchup. They also both have the opportunity to pass one another in the standings, given that they have the same exact record.
76ers at Celtics Betting Analysis
On the Philadelphia 76ers side
The Sixers are led by star center Joel Embiid. Despite missing time this year due to injuries and covid, Embiid continues to be a rock-solid pillar for this roster. He is averaging 22.8 points and 10.3 rebounds on the season.
Tyrese Maxey has been a surprisingly pleasant replacement for Ben Simmons in 2021. The young guard has posted 18 points and five assists per contest through the first month and a half of the campaign.
Philadelphia has been middle of the pack in terms of scoring. However, they rank in the top 10 in limiting turnovers on offense. That is the main reason why the team has kept its head above water, even with Embiid and Tobias Harris missing various amounts of time this season.
With their stars beginning to return to form since coming back from injuries, the 76ers might be on the verge of a winning streak. However, Boston stands in its way.
On the Boston Celtics side
The Boston Celtics are led by the star-studded duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. If the organization could add one more star to the mix, Boston could feature one of the best “big 3’s” in the NBA.
Tatum is averaging 24.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while Brown is averaging 22.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest.
The one thing the Celtics lack is scoring depth. While they rank 15th in points per game, Boston is near the bottom of the league in a couple of important scoring statistics. They rank 23rd in field goal percentage and 25th in three-point percentage.
The front office may need to add a couple of efficient and reliable scorers to join Tatum and Brown before the trade deadline if the Celtics have hopes of a deep postseason run.
Nonetheless, this is still a talented team that is more than capable of giving Philadelphia a run for their money.
Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics Prediction
Top sportsbooks have Boston listed anywhere from 1.5-2.5 point favorites for this game. The Celtics are 6-4 over their last ten games, while the 76ers are just 3-7 during that span.
I really like the 76ers and believe they will be a contender as the season rolls along. But I am rolling with the Celtics at home for Wednesday’s contest.
Take the Celtics -1.5.
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