It is a loaded day of NBA action with 11 games on the overall slate. Tipping off at 8:00 p.m. ET, the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers will be facing off.
This marks the fourth and final matchup between the rival organizations. The 76ers have won two of the three games thus far, with the combined point differential across the three games played at just four points. Philadelphia won 117-116 and 102-100 in their pair of victories, while Boston picked up a 109-108 win in their lone victory.
Looking at the odds for tonight’s matchup, the Celtics enter as 9.5-point favorites and hold -360 odds on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The 76ers hold +285 odds of getting the outright victory with the game total set at 220.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction for this Sunday night matchup.
76ers vs. Celtics preview, prediction
The Boston Celtics sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 39-20 record on the season. They enter this match having won five of their past six games, and last played on Friday night against the Nets. On the season, the Celtics have gone 34-25 against the spread, and the game total has remained under in 37 of their 59 games played.
Jayson Tatum remains sidelined as he recovers from his Achilles tear, but continues to look closer to making a return. Baylor Scheierman was listed as questionable with a fracture in his thumb but will play. Without Tatum, Jaylen Brown has stepped up as the true 1A option for the Celtics. Brown is averaging 29.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. Payton Pritchard has made the most of his expanded role, adding 17.3 points and 5.4 assists, while Derrick White pitches in 17.1 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.5 rebounds. Neemias Queta, Nikola Vucevic, and Jordan Walsh also play key roles in the rotation.
The Celtics are scoring 115.0 points per game, which ranks 19th in the league. They also rank second in offensive rating, 16th in field goal percentage, and 10th in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 107.5 points per game against Boston, which is the best rate in the league. The Celtics also rank seventh in defensive rating, third in opponents’ field goal percentage, and 16th in opponents’ three-point percentage.
The Philadelphia 76ers have largely exceeded expectations this year, sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a 33-26 overall record. They enter this matchup on a three-game winning streak, and most recently defeated the Heat on Thursday. On the season, the Sixers have gone 33-26 against the spread, and the game total has gone over in 32 of their 59 games played.
Joel Embiid has been ruled out for tonight’s matchup and has been diagnosed with an oblique strain and will miss at least the team’s next three games. Paul George also remains sidelined as he continues to serve his suspension for a violation of the NBA’s drug policy. This will put more responsibility on Tyrese Maxey’s plate, who has played at an All-NBA level this year. Maxey is averaging 29.1 points, 6.8 assists, and 2.1 steals while leading the NBA in minutes. Third-overall pick V.J. Edgecombe adds 15.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists alongside Maxey in the backcourt. Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes, and Dominick Barlow also play key roles in the rotation.
As a team, the Sixers are scoring 116.7 points per game, which ranks 11th in the NBA. They also rank 12th in offensive rating, 24th in field goal percentage, and 16th in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 115.9 points per game against the Sixers, which ranks 19th. Philadelphia also ranks 16th in defensive rating, 16th in opponents’ field goal percentage, and 11th in opponents’ three-point percentage.
76ers vs. Celtics prediction, best bet
Given how close the three matchups have been this season, my lean is toward the 9.5-point spread being too many points and the Sixers keeping this matchup competitive throughout. Even without Joel Embiid, the Sixers have played with an admirable level of fight this season and gone toe-to-toe with some impressive teams.
However, I am backing the game total to go over the 220.5 line in this matchup. Without Embiid on the floor, the Sixers will lean on more of a fast-paced style and look to get out in transition at a regular rate. Maxey and Edgecombe each possess special levels of athleticism and can pour on points in a hurry.
The game totals have finished at 233, 217, and 202 in the three matchups thus far. But both teams have been scoring the ball at a high rate of late. The Sixers are averaging 118.6 points per game across their past 14 matchups and have scored 135 points in two of their last three games. The game total has gone over in four consecutive Sixers’ games. On the other side of the matchup, the Celtics are coming off a season-high 148 points scored in their previous matchup with the Nets.
Expect the Celtics to have success from beyond the three-point arc in this matchup as well. They attempt the third-most three-pointers in the league and connect at the 10th-best rate. Philadelphia leans on a switch-heavy scheme designed to generate turnovers and force opposing teams to make decisions with the basketball. When things are fully clicking it has success, but the Sixers also have a tendency to come disconnected in a way that leads to plenty of open three-point looks. On the season, the Sixers rank 15th in opponents’ three-point attempts allowed and 11th in opponents’ three-point percentage.
Expect the Celtics’ three-point shooting and 76ers’ transition opportunities to drive the scoring in this match, and for both these teams to fill up the box score. The 220.5 line is too low based on the context of this matchup, and count on both sides putting plenty of points on the board in what should be a fast-paced battle.
