The Emirates NBA Cup will kick off tonight with eight games of action across the slate. This is the third season of the in-season tournament with the eye-popping courts and slightly different stakes providing a shakeup to the typical regular season. Kicking off the action tonight, an Eastern Conference rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers will take place on the floor in what is already their second matchup this year.
Boston has limped out of the gates to a 2-3 start, while the Sixers have been one of the biggest positive surprises in basketball. They are 4-0 to start the season despite Joel Embiid missing one of these games and being stuck on a strict minutes limit when he has been on the floor.
Looking at the odds for tonight’s NBA Cup matchup, the Sixers enter as 1.5-point favorites and hold -125 odds on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Celtics hold +105 odds of getting the outright victory with the game total set at 234.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction for this Friday night matchup.
Celtics vs. Sixers preview, prediction
Jayson Tatum remains on the sideline recovering from his Achilles tear and the reality that this may be a “gap season” is beginning to set in regarding the Celtics. They opened up the season with three consecutive losses, the first of which was a 117-116 loss at the hands of this same Sixers team. Boston also fell to the Knicks and Pistons before bouncing back with wins over the Pelicans and Cavaliers.
There are some ups and downs that come with it, but Jaylen Brown is showing what he can do as the clear top offensive option. He is averaging 26.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists through the opening five games. Derrick White adds 17.0 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds while Anfernee Simons, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser also average in double figures. Boston’s depth is rounded out by Josh Minott, Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, Hugo Gonzales, and Xavier Tillman. The Celtics have maintained their identity as a high-volume three-point shooting team, currently leading the NBA with 48.4 perimeter shots per game. But they are connecting at just a 33.1% rate on these attempts, which ranks 24th in the NBA, and they have had some struggles rebounding the basketball.
After a disastrous season last year, the Philadelphia 76ers have a renewed energy to start the season. They are 4-0 out of the gates this year with victories over the Celtics, Hornets, Magic, and Wizards. Philadelphia has been extremely resilient, pulling off a fourth-quarter comeback in three of these four wins. Joel Embiid remains on a 20-minute limit and has yet to look like the full version of himself. Paul George and Jared McCain also remain sidelined while Dominick Barlow will miss tonight’s game with an elbow injury as well.
But Tyrese Maxey has taken another step forward in his production and is now carrying the responsibility of being in a more prominent leadership role. Maxey is leading the NBA in scoring at 37.5 points per game along with 8.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and is shooting 47.4% on three-point attempts. Third overall pick V.J. Edgecombe has burst out of the gates to start his NBA career with averages of 22.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists through his first four games while Quentin Grimes rounds out the backcourt production with 17.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.
Across his limited minutes, Embiid is still averaging 16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Kelly Oubre Jr. is off to a stellar start to the season with 17.8 points and 6.5 rebounds of his own while Adem Bona, Trendon Watford, Andre Drummond, and Justin Edwards round out most of the depth. Philadelphia plays at an up-tempo pace where they generate many turnovers and get out in transition often. Their guard production is their biggest strength and this is a much different identity than we have seen from previous iterations of this team.
Celtics vs. Sixers prediction, best bet
It is difficult not to be moved by how the Sixers have started the year. They have turned a page on last year’s disastrous season and are showing a youthful energy and resiliency that is working. Most recently they came back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the Wizards to force overtime and then win outright in the additional period. Philadelphia has outscored opponents 148-101 in the fourth quarter this season, winning all four of these quarters individually.
Most concerning in this matchup, Boston has struggled to stop opposing guards. Anfernee Simons and Payton Pritchard can be vulnerable on this end of the floor and the Celtics do not have the caliber of defenders surrounding them to make up for this. This will be problematic with the trio of Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, and Quentin Grimes set to headline to offensive attack for Philadelphia.
The Celtics have looked more encouraging across their previous two victories, but this is not a matchup that plays to their favor. Expect the Sixers to have too much offensive firepower and for their swarming defense to have success generating turnovers and getting out in transition. Philadelphia had 21 fast break points against Boston in the first matchup this year and will have a similar plan of attack. With the home Philadelphia crowd behind them and starting to buy into this new-look Sixers team, count on the youthful legs being a difference and for the Sixers to run the Celtics out of the arena. I like the game total over as well, but my top bet is for the Sixers to win outright and advance to 5-0 to start the season.
