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76ers at Celtics Preview

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read

By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com

Straight Up (SU), Against the Spread (ATS)

Betting Odds Breakdown

Philadelphia opened as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 212.5 after news of Celtics' guard Kemba Walker being 'out' with a knee injury.

Eye Test

The Celtics (32-15) sit two games behind the Raptors for the spot in the Atlantic division in spite of winning five of their past six games (Toronto has won 10 consecutive games). Boston rebounded from a rough stretch in January when it lost six of eight games by picking up underdog victories over the Lakers and Heat.

The 76ers (31-18) have been the epitome of great at home (22-2) and terrible on the road (9-16). Philadelphia has put together a solid season, but would be the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs if they started today. The road record is very troubling as the next three away games for the 76ers are against the Celtics, Heat (Monday), and Bucks (Thursday).

Current Form

Philadelphia has lost its last two road games at Atlanta and Toronto, while going 2-8 in their past 10 contests away from Wells Fargo Center. In fact, the last time the 76ers beat a team with a winning record on the road, it was at Boston in mid-December. In spite of the road woes, the Sixers are 6-2 in the last eight games overall, but that includes victories over the Nets twice, Knicks, Warriors, and Bulls.

The Celtics started the season with a 15-2 mark at TD Garden, but Boston has gone 4-3 in its last seven home contests. The two losses came to Phoenix and Detroit, while Boston owns only three home victories against winning squads since the beginning of December (Lakers, Nuggets, Heat). Dating back to January 6, the Celtics have posted a 7-7 record, while the Raptors are 11-2 in this stretch to grab the two-game advantage atop the Atlantic.

Head-to-Head

Unfortunately, this is the fourth and final meeting of the regular season for these two rivals. Fortunately for Boston, this is the final time the Celtics see the 76ers as Philadelphia has captured the first three matchups. The 76ers cruised past the Celtics on opening night, 107-93 as 5.5-point home favorites. The Sixers handed the Celtics their first home loss of the season on December 12 as one-point underdogs, 115-109, highlighted by Joel Embiid's 38 points. Embiid sat out the next matchup in Philadelphia on January 9, but the 76ers rallied from an early deficit to beat the Celtics again, 109-98 as one-point 'dogs.

Inside the Stats (Home/Away)

Points Per Game:
Philadelphia 108.7 (106.1)
Boston 112.4 (116.0)

Points Allowed:
Philadelphia 105.2 (109.1)
Boston 105.5 (106.5)

Home-Away Records

-- Philadelphia 9-16 SU, 7-16-2 ATS
-- Boston 19-5 SU, 14-9-1 ATS

Situational (vs. Atlantic Division)

Obviously, the 3-0 mark by the 76ers against the Celtics has helped boost Philadelphia's record within the division and tarnished Boston's mark. The 76ers are 9-3 within the division, with two of those losses to Atlantic-leading Toronto. All three of the losses have come on the road, including the two defeats to the Raptors and one at Brooklyn.

The Celtics have knocked off the Raptors twice, while owning a 3-2 home mark against the Atlantic.

Score Projection

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Betcha Didn’t Know

The 76ers have compiled a dreadful 1-10 SU and 3-7-1 ATS mark in the role of a road underdog this season. The only win came at TD Garden on December 12 over the Celtics, snapping an 0-5 SU/ATS skid in Boston that dated back to April 2018.

VI Prediction Tool

The VegasInsider.com Prediction resource gives an edge to either team in eight specific categories listed above and there are instances where both clubs receive a positive edge (). Depending on how you weigh the below factors could provide more reason to fade or follow those teams in your wagers.

VI Edge Predictions
Categories Philadelphia 76ers Boston Celtics
Eye Test -
Current Form -
Head-to-Head -
Inside the Stats - -
Home-Away -
Situational -
Score Projection - -
Betcha Didn't Know -
Expert Picks - -

Total Talk (Over-Under)

Philadelphia: 23-25-1 (Away, 11-14 Under)
Boston: 20-27 (Home, 12-12 Over)

The 'under' is 6-2 in the last eight road contests for the 76ers, while scoring 97 or less in five of those games.

The Celtics are 5-0 to the 'under' the last five games, while allowing 104 points or less four times in this span.

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