The third-seeded Sixers will try to bounce back from a disappointing Game 2 loss tonight as they return home to play the second-seeded Celtics in Game 3 at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). After stealing Game 1 from Boston in impressive fashion, the Celtics came back motivated in Game 2 on Wednesday and defeated Philadelphia 121-87.
Philadelphia welcomed back league MVP Joel Embiid to the starting lineup after he missed Game 4 in the first round against the Nets and Game 1 on Monday night. The All-Star big man scored 15 points (4-9 FG, 0-2 3pt) but made his impact felt on the defensive end with five blocks, which is a good sign moving forward for the Sixers. Philly also saw James Harden come back down to earth after scoring 45 points in Game 1. Harden couldn't buy a basket as he recorded 12 points on 2-of-14 shooting from the field and 0-of-6 from beyond the arc. The Sixers shot 39.2 percent from the field and a horrific 20 percent from three-point range -- a notable difference from the regular season (38.6 percent).
Meanwhile, the Celtics couldn't miss Wednesday as they shot 46.7 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from beyond the arc (attempted 51 threes). Jaylen Brown led the way for Boston, producing a game-high 25-points on 9-of-17 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range. The Celtics also got another lift off the bench from Malcolm Brogdon, who posted 23 points and six assists. The vet point guard knocked down six three-pointers and is an x-factor through the first two games.
Can the Sixers defend homecourt and take Game 3 tonight, or will Jayson Tatum silence the Philly crowd and give the Celtics a 2-1 series lead? Below, we'll break down tonight's Celtics-Sixers matchup, giving our prediction and best bets for the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
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Celtics vs. Sixers odds, picks, predictions
- Spread: Celtics -2.5 (-110); Sixers +2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: OVER 214.5 (-110); UNDER 214.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Celtics -140; Sixers +115
After crushing the Sixers by 34 points in Game 2 at TD Garden, the Celtics are small 2.5-point road favorites heading into Game 3. Boston played well on the road during the regular season (25-16), but Philly was equally good at home this season (29-12).
The public likes the Celtics to get the job done tonight as they are receiving 73 percent of the bets (85 percent of the handle) on the spread and 50 percent of the bets (57 percent of the handle) on the moneyline. Through the first two games of this series, the Celtics have shot the ball well from the perimeter. In Game 1, Boston shot 58.7 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc. Boston followed it up in Game 2, shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from three-point range.
If the Sixers' perimeter defense doesn't quickly improve tonight, it could be a long night at the Wells Fargo Center. However, the Celtics are 16-19-2 against the spread this season as a road favorite (including the playoffs), but they are 11-8-1 ATS when the spread was -4 to -1.
Philadelphia can get back into the win column by forcing the Celtics into double-digit turnovers. In Game 1, the Sixers only had eight turnovers, while the C's had 16 turnovers, leading to 20 points. In last year's playoffs, the Celtics were 1-8 when they had 16 or more turnovers but 13-2 with 15 or fewer turnovers.
If Philly can create early turnovers and convert them into easy transition buckets, it should help Tyrese Maxey, Harden, and Embiid. We should also expect a better offensive performance from Embiid, who only took nine shots in Game 2. In four regular-season contests against the Celtics, the 29-year-old center averaged 36.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.
Also, let us not forget when these two teams played each other in Philly to end the regular season, the Celtics won the first meeting by three points, and the Sixers won the second matchup by two points. Therefore, fans should expect a close game tonight as both teams will go on their own set of runs. However, the Sixers, who are 4-1 ATS as home underdogs this season, will win tonight in front of the home crowd.
Prediction: Sixers 107, Celtics 102. The Sixers (+2.5) cover the spread, with the game going UNDER the total (214.5)
Best player prop bet for Celtics vs. Sixers: De'Anthony Melton OVER 7.5 points (-120)
Melton will play an integral role in tonight's contest, as the Sixers will be looking for him to provide instant offense off the bench. The veteran combo guard struggled in Game 2, scoring two points on 1-of-5 shooting from the field in 18 minutes off the bench.
The last time Melton had less than two points in a game was coincidentally in the final regular-season meeting against Boston (0 points in 19 minutes). We don't envision the 24-year-old Melton struggling at home, where he averaged 10.8 points per game and shot 42.6 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from beyond the arc during the regular season. Lastly, Melton has scored more than 7.5 points in four of his past six games.
