In an Eastern Conference matchup of two teams moving in opposite directions, Jayson Tatum and the Celtics will host Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers at TD Garden on Tuesday night (7:30 p.m.). We have all the odds, best bets, top props, and final score predictions for this Atlantic division showdown.
The Celtics have been grooving all season, but their current stretch has been one of the more torrid ones of the 2023-24 campaign. Joe Mazzulla's squad has won eight games in a row and 10 of its past 11, maintaining a 7.5-game lead over a Cavaliers team that has also been smoldering.
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The 76ers, on the other hand, have hit the skids with reigning MVP Joel Embiid out (meniscus). They have lost seven of their past 10 games, sliding down to fifth in the East with just 1.0 game separating them from Play-In seeds currently occupied by the Heat and Magic.
Will Boston stay on cruise control and take care of the struggling Sixers? Or, will Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris lead Philadelphia to a hard-fought road victory and light a spark under Nick Nurse's squad? Let's dive into the odds for this Eastern Conference clash, and unveil our best bets from BetMGM to help you make some Tuesday night cash.
Celtics vs. 76ers predictions, players props, bets against the spread and moneyline
All odds and props are from BetMGM, an authorized gaming operator of the NBA.
- ATS: Celtics -11.5 (-110) | 76ers +11.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Celtics -750 | 76ers +525
- Over/under: O 229.5 (-110) | U 229.5 (-110)
The massive odds in Boston's favor should come as no surprise to bettors, as the Celtics have been beating teams in much better shape than this current Sixers squad. Over their past 15 games, the Green have gone 13-2, taking down the Mavericks, Pelicans, Heat (twice), and Knicks along the way. Their last three victories in particular were by an average margin of 27.
The 76ers, meanwhile, have gone 4-11 over their past 15 games. They do have two big wins over the Cavaliers during that span (although Donovan Mitchell didn't play one of those two games), but they have also taken awful losses to the Blazers, Nets, and Hawks. When we last saw Nick Nurse's squad on Sunday, Philly lost by 21 to former head coach Doc Rivers and the Bucks.
Celtics vs. 76ers predictions, best bets
This could get ugly. Philadelphia desperately needs a second go-to scorer alongside Maxey in Embiid's absence, and neither Tobias Harris nor Kelly Oubre can be that guy at this stage in their respective careers. The Sixers have gone 7-16 without JoJo this season, during which they have averaged just 111.3 points per game.
Now they face a relatively healthy Celtics team that averages 120.7 PPG (fifth-most in the NBA) and 122.6 PPG at home (sixth-most). Even worse for Philly, Boston gives up just 110.4 PPG (fifth-fewest) and 108.9 PPG at home (fourth-fewest). Mazzulla's squad has been the complete package all year — especially at home, where the C's have gone 26-3 — and they rarely let their guard down against scuffling teams (call the loss to the Lakers sans LeBron/AD a mulligan).
Philly faces a double-edged sword in the Bean. The Celts have an empty injury report, which means they have far too many scorers for the Sixers' Embiid-less lineup to defend. How can Paul Reed and Mo Bamba contain Kristaps Porzingis? Who helps net-negative defenders Maxey, Oubre, Buddy Hield, and Kyle Lowry when Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday get going? When one man helps or cheats to close off a driving lane, another man's open — and Boston is shooting 40 percent from three-point land this month.
The other side of that sword, of course, is offense. Philly looked impressive in games without Embiid back in December, but it has since started to look like a ship without a captain. Holiday and White are such elite perimeter defenders that someone else will have to step up against the Celtics. Even if an Oubre or Harris or Lowry pops for 20, it won't be enough.
There's simply too much talent disparity between these teams as of right now, especially with the game taking place at the Garden. With just under 30 percent of the regular season left and opposing stars dropping like flies falling to the injury bug, Green-teamers can almost taste the No. 1 seed that has eluded them since 2017. This team isn't taking much for granted or mailing much in this season, and this evening should be yet another example of the work it has put in.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Celtics 128, 76ers 104 — The Celtics win (-750) and cover (-11.5), blasting the Sixers and propelling the score OVER the total (229.5). One of our favorite bets is the Celtics' team total of OVER 118.5 (-115).
Celtics vs. 76ers: Top player prop bet
Kristaps Porzingis points — OVER 19.5 (-115)
Porzingis needed very little time to become a fan favorite in New England, and his efforts against the 76ers this season have been a big reason for his newfound popularity. The Unicorn has averaged 29 points per game against Philadelphia, and that's despite Embiid being active for two of Philly's three tilts with Boston.
With Paul Reed and Mo Bamba laboring to defend KP down low, we think the 7-2 Latvian will pick up where he left off against Nick Nurse's guys. The Sixers give up an average of 51.6 points in the paint per game, and the bleeding has been even worse on the road. Expect a surgical performance from Dr. Zinger.
Other props we like: Buddy Hield OVER 2.5 three-pointers (-160); Derrick White OVER 0.5 blocks (-175)
