76ers vs. Celtics: NBA odds, Picks and Predictions
76ers vs. Celtics Odds
| 76ers Odds | +4.5 |
| Celtics Odds | -4.5 |
| Over/Under | 224 |
| Date | Wed, Feb. 8 |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. |
| TV | ESPN |
On Wednesday, the Boston Celtics will host the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Entering play, Boston (38-16) owns the best record in the Eastern Conference, with Philadelphia (34-18) trailing by three games in the standings. Ahead of tip-off, oddsmakers are anticipating a closely-contested affair, pricing the Celtics as 4.5-point home favorites on the spread.
Philadelphia 76ers
Embiid listed as questionable
Joel Embiid is officially listed as questionable ahead of tonight’s affair, though it is probable that bettors will see him on the floor tonight. Embiid has been listed as questionable for each of Philadelphia’s last five games, but has not missed a single contest in that span.
On the season, Embiid leads the league in scoring, averaging 33.4 points per game, in addition to contributing 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per night. Per Cleaning the Glass, the 76ers rank in the 86th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 92nd percentile in offensive efficiency with Embiid on the floor this season, compared to the 43rd percentile in offensive efficiency and the 24th percentile in defensive efficiency with him on the sidelines.
Hottest team in the Eastern Conference
Since December 9, Philadelphia is 22-6 overall and has outscored their opponents by 5.5 points per 100 possessions. In that span, the 76ers rank second in the NBA in Net Rating, trailing only the Denver Nuggets. Across the last two months, Philadelphia is one of only two teams in the league with fewer than 10 losses.
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Boston Celtics
Smart OUT
Tonight, Marcus Smart will miss his eighth consecutive contest. In his absence, Boston is 3-4 overall and has outscored their opponents by 3.4 points per 100 possessions. Since Smart last played, Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon have each increased their offensive contributions, averaging 14.8 points per game or better, operating in a supporting role alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Who will step up for Boston?
According to CourtIQ, Brogdon (+3.0%) sees the largest increase in usage of any player on the Celtics roster when Smart is on the sidelines. In these situations, he is averaging 23.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per 36 minutes of action.
Per props.cash, Brogdon has scored in double-figures in nine consecutive games with Smart out of the lineup, including two games with at least 20 points. Across his last seven games, Brogdon is averaging 28.5 minutes per contest and shooting an efficient 42.3% from beyond-the-arc.
76ers vs. Celtics – Picks & Predictions
In seven games since Marcus Smart last played, the Celtics have only two wins by more than four points – beating the injury-depleted Nets by 43 points and the talented-lacking Pistons by 12 points. In their other five games, they have either lost or needed overtime to win a tightly-contested affair.
The 76ers have been one of the NBA’s best teams across the last two months, winning 22 of 28 games overall. On the road in that stretch, Philadelphia is 9-3 and has the second-best Net Rating of any team in basketball.
Expect Joel Embiid and company to keep this game close, if not pull off an outright upset.
PICK: 76ers +4.5 (-110, MGM)
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