It all comes down to this for Philadelphia. Down 3-1 in their first-round series with Boston, the 76ers need a win tonight to keep their season alive. However, that won’t be easy on the road against the title-contending Celtics. Which players are poised to step up for these two rivals on Tuesday?
The Celtics are favored by 10.5 points (-102) over the 76ers, with the over/under set at 213.5 points. Here are the two best prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Tuesday’s Philadelphia vs. Boston matchup.
76ers vs. Celtics prop bet picks
Paul George 3+ three-pointers made (+108)
In an otherwise disappointing series for Philly, Paul George has been fairly consistent. The forward has recorded at least 16 points in all four of his postseason outings, going 50% from the field. Granted, Joel Embiid’s return from injury makes this Sixers offense more crowded than ever. Still, George is more than capable of thriving as a third scoring option. That’s due in large part to his shooting from beyond the arc over the past month. During 11 games played since April 1st, playoffs included, the nine-time All-Star is hitting 47% of his three-point attempts. In Game 4, he drained all three of his shots from deep vs. Boston.
Tuesday presents yet another opportunity for PG13 to light it up from long distance. The Celtics are vulnerable from the perimeter, giving up the NBA’s ninth-most three-pointers made per game to opponents (13.9). Embiid, if nothing else, demands defensive attention inside the paint. As a result, there should be several open looks for George on the wing. The 35-year-old has nailed at least three treys in three of his last five meetings with Boston. At plus money, Philadelphia’s much-maligned veteran is poised for success from beyond the arc.
Neemias Queta 7+ rebounds (-139)
As previously mentioned, Joel Embiid is back in action for the 76ers. That didn’t make much of a difference in Game 4, especially on the glass. Boston out-rebounded Philadelphia 51-30, due in part to inefficient shooting from the latter. Key to those efforts on defense was Neemias Queta. In just 17 minutes on Sunday, the center nearly delivered a double-double (nine points, eight rebounds). The center is arguably the biggest surprise on a Celtics roster full of top-notch role players. Through 76 games in the regular season, he averaged 10.2 points and 8.4 rebounds.
If things were a bit closer last weekend, Queta likely logs at least 20 minutes of playing time. Still, the fifth-year pro has proven he can put up numbers in a hurry. That’s especially true against the Sixers, who are allowing the seventh-most rebounds per game (54.7) to opponents. Queta has snagged at least seven boards in six of his previous nine meetings with Philadelphia. Assuming Embiid is back in the starting lineup, Boston will need some size on the floor. For bettors looking to get more value here, consider 8+ rebounds at +121 tonight.
