76ers vs. Celtics: Preview, odds, props and best bets

Two Atlantic Division foes get together in Boston on Tuesday night when the Celtics (45-12) host the Philadelphia 76ers (33-24). The Celtics have been nearly unbeatable at home while the Sixers continue to struggle without Joel Embiid.

Here are the odds for this game from Michigan’s top sportsbooks:

The 76ers are 4-11 over their last 15 games, including a 1-2 start since the break. Adjusting to life without Joel Embiid has not been simple for Nick Nurse’s team.

The Celtics have won eight straight and have the NBA’s best record, five games better than second place. Entering Tuesday, they are 7.5 games ahead of the Cavaliers, who are second in the Eastern Conference.

While betting on the NBA is not necessarily a straightforward endeavor, there are certain trends and matchups to pay attention to so you get a betting edge. Here are some keys to watch for in this rivalry matchup:

Can Boston reach “another level”?

The Celtics look like the clear class of the East. Anything shy of a Conference Finals appearance would feel like a disappointment, and buzz around Beantown seems to expect them to go even farther. In the aftermath of their eighth straight win, when they beat the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, veteran Al Horford indicated the Celtics still have room to get better.

One of the hardest parts of an NBA season is staying focused for 82 games plus the playoffs, but the Celtics have been consistently excellent this season, led by Jayson Tatum, one of the favorites for NBA MVP (+4000, FanDuel)

Nothing to lose?

The aforementioned Sixers’ struggles have stretched from before the All-Star break. Philadelphia, currently the fifth-best record in the East, opened their second half schedule with games against Miami, New York, Cleveland and Milwaukee, who occupy four of the other top six spots in the conference. Now they go toe-to-toe with the cream of the crop in Tatum and company.

With not much to lose as double-digit underdogs, perhaps the Sixers can play loose and keep things close. They will need to be a lot better offensively than they have been of late, as they have not surpassed 104 points in any of their last four games.

76ers vs. Celtics best bet

When you look at these two teams, 12.5 points seems like an exorbitant amount of points for Boston to cover, but the gap between these two teams, especially with no Embiid, is so wide right now. The Sixers have not been playing inspiring basketball and there is no evidence that will change on Tuesday. The Celtics are arguably the best team in the NBA, and they have won 20 straight games within their conference. They should do so comfortably against Philadelphia.

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76ers vs. Celtics best prop

Hield has seemingly taken on a new role as a facilitator since joining the 76ers. While he averages 3.1 assists this season, he has at least four in six of his seven appearances for Philly.

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Score prediction: Celtics 123, 76ers 103

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