The NBA regular season continues with games on Wednesday. The Philadelphia 76ers will hit the road and take on the Boston Celtics in an Eastern Conference battle. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a 76ers-Celtics prediction and pick.
Both of these teams have had similar starts to the season. The Philadelphia 76ers are 11-10 and are coming off a win over the Orlando Magic. The Boston Celtics are also 11-10 and are coming off a dominant victory.
Here are the odds for the 76ers-Celtics Wednesday night NBA matchup, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: 76ers-Celtics Odds
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Philadelphia 76ers: +2.5 (-108)
Boston Celtics: -2.5 (-112)
Over: 206.5 (-108)
Under: 206.5 (-112)
Why The 76ers Could Cover The Spread
The Sixers have been struggling through the first 21 games of the regular season, with health issues playing a major role. Philly just managed to beat the Magic by five, but that game was closer than it should have been. The Sixers are trying to get back on track after their hot start to the season was derailed by COVID-19.
Leading the way for Philly is Joel Embiid, one of the league's premier big men and an MVP candidate. Even despite all the other health issues earlier this season, the Sixers were dominant until Embiid himself tested positive for COVID-19 and missed nine games, which brought the team back down to earth.
On the season, Embiid is averaging nearly 23 points and over 10 rebounds a game. A decisive factor in the outcome of this game will be how he plays. If Embiid can step things up a notch, the Sixers could definitely walk away with a victory. But if Embiid struggles against Boston (Al Horford often gives him problems), the Sixers will need to turn to their other players.
One of Philadelphia's role players who has been playing well is Seth Curry, the player this team turns to when it is looking for instant offense. Against the Magic, he dropped 24 points and shot an impressive 10-for-13 from the field. Curry is averaging a career-high 16.2 points per game and is shooting 41.7% from beyond the arc. Seth Curry may often be overlooked because of his brother, but he is a baller in his own right. He has the ability to light a spark for his team, and look for him to play a key role in this game. Don't be surprised to see the Celtics use Marcus Smart in an attempt to slow him down.
Why The Celtics Could Cover The Spread
Heading into this season, the Celtics were in the conversation for making a possible championship run. However, through 21 games, they barely have a winning record. Boston is coming off a 12-point victory over the Toronto Raptors and is hoping to have turned a corner. The Celtics have what it takes to be an extremely competitive team, but they just need to step things up on both ends. After a two-game road trip, they will return to their home court to try to keep up the positive momentum.
The leader of this Boston team is Jayson Tatum, though Boston is waiting for him to really get into a groove this season. Tatum is averaging 24.3 points, but he has not been shooting the ball efficiently at just 39.5% from the field and 31.6% from 3-point range. The Celtics star will have a tough matchup ahead of him in Matisse Thybulle, so he's going to have to work to find a rhythm in this game. If Tatum can break out of his shooting slump, Boston will have a great chance in this game.
Jaylen Brown is the other half of the Celtics' All-Star duo. He started off the season scorching hot, but he recently had to miss some time due to an injury. Brown has since returned and is starting to pick things back up. He has yet to break the 30-minute mark in playing time since returning, but Wednesday's game will give the talented swingman another chance to step up. Expect a big night from Jaylen Brown, especially if Thybulle and the Sixers look to take Tatum out of the game.
Final 76ers-Celtics Prediction & Pick
This pick isn't actually too difficult. While these two teams may have the same record, the Sixers are still trying to find their groove again with Joel Embiid in the lineup. The Celtics are at home and have picked up some big wins, while also suffering some brutal losses in games that should have been wins. They're not that far off from being really good. Pick Boston to win and cover and get ready for a solid battle in the East.
FINAL 76ERS-CELTICS PICK: Boston Celtics -2.5 (-112)
FINAL 76ERS-CELTICS SCORE PREDICTION: Celtics 107 – 76ers 101
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