Subscribe
Follow Us
The Philadelphia 76ers will play the Boston Celtics Monday in an Eastern Conference matchup. It's time continue our NBA odds series with a 76ers-Celtics prediction and pick.
The 76ers and Celtics will play on Monday as each side continues to navigate through somewhat of Covid crisis that many teams are experiencing as we near mid-season. Boston has several guys listed as out due to being in Covid protocols, but still comes into this matchup as a favorite on their home floor. The 76ers have a bunch of guys in limbo for various reasons (some Covid), it's a bit muddy trying to figure out who exactly will suit up for this one after the 76ers had their game on Sunday vs. the New Orleans Pelicans postponed.
Here is how FanDuel has set the 76ers-Celtics odds for this Sunday NBA matchup.
NBA Odds: 76ers-Celtics Odds
Philadelphia 76ers +3.5 (-110)
Boston Celtics -3.5 (-110)
Over 213.5 (-110)
Under 213.5 (-110)
*Watch NBA Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)
Why The 76ers Could Cover The Spread
The 76ers have had their season wrecked by trade requests, injuries and Covid to this point. They are still dealing with all of those issues as the calendar is about to turn over to 2022. Philadelphia will have a good chance to cover and win on Monday as long as Joel Embiid suits up. Danny Green and Tyrese Maxey were day-to-day heading into Sunday. Andre Drummond, Georges Niang and Shake Milton will be out due to Covid protocols. Embiid was questionable Sunday with an ankle injury before the postponement, so his status is somewhat up in the air for this one as well.
Assuming Embiid plays, the 76ers would be in good position for success. The Celtics still have a slew of players out due to Covid, so Philadelphia having their star big man might be enough to pull out the win on Monday. The 76ers are 6-4 vs. the spread as an away underdog this season, and 9-8 on the road outright.
Why The Celtics Could Cover The Spread
Al Horford, Grant Williams, Josh Richardson, Juan Hernangomez, Jabari Parker, Sam Hauser and Brodric Thomas are all still in Covid protocols as of Monday afternoon and will likely be out for this game. Jayson Tatum is questionable with an ankle issue, while guard Dennis Schroder is questionable with a non-Covid illness. Despite all of those issues, Boston somehow comes into this game as a favorite. Assuming Tatum suits up, Boston will obviously have a chance to win at home with he, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams and hopefully Schroder all still in the fold. Still, being down Horford against Embiid would be a huge disadvantage for Boston as Embiid likely gets opposing big men into foul trouble.
Boston 5-6 vs. the spread as a home favorite this season and 8-5 at home outright.
Final 76ers-Celtics Prediction and Pick
Take the 76ers to cover here. This game could come down to the wire as Boston is shorthanded despite likely having most of their better players. Philadelphia should be the deeper and healthier team overall in this matchup which should be enough for the cover. The 76ers should be rested after their game Sunday vs. the Pelicans was postponed. If Joel Embiid is ruled out for some reason, then the pick (and the odds, obviously) changes entirely.
Final 76ers-Celtics Prediction & Pick: 76ers +3.5 (-110)
