Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics picks, best bets & player props

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The Boston Celtics finally appear to be figuring out how to deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Boston beat Philadelphia 126-117 in the previous meeting this season between these two long-time Eastern Conference rivals on Oct. 18.

Couple that with Boston’s dominating 135-87 verdict last February 15 at Philadelphia and the Celtics have won two in a row over the Sixers for the first time since 2020. Prior to this two-game run, Boston was 1-5 straight up in the previous six clashes with Philly. That included a 1-2 slate at TD Garden.

Oddsmakers are liking Boston’s chances of keeping this roll going. It’s the hometown Celtics who are set as the 4.5-point favorites in the NBA game between these two teams on Wednesday, February 8. Boston is 9-2 SU in the club’s last 11 home games.

The Celtics are 2-7 against the spread over their last nine games. As a home favorite this season, the Celtics are just 14-13 ATS. The 76ers are a middling 4-5 ATS as an away underdog. Overall, Philadelphia is 12-12 ATS on the road during the 2022-23 campaign.

Head to head, Philadelphia is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 games against Boston. The 76ers are 6-3 ATS in their last nine games.

Philly is the #2 team in the NBA at hitting the over on the total. The 76ers are 31-21-0, a 59.6% over rate. On the road, they’re even more productive, going 15-9 (62.5%). Boston is the NBA’s #2 home team for going over. The Celtics are 17-9-1, good for a 65.4% hit rate on the over.

Boston remains the +350 betting favorite to win in the the NBA Championship odds. Philadelphia is the +1000 fifth choice in this betting market.

The Celtics are listing three players as day-to-day for this game, including two starters. Both shooting guard Jaylen Brown (illness) and center Robert Williams III (sprained left ankle) are showing as probable to play Wednesday.

Backup center Luke Kornet (ankle) is also listed as probable to play. Point guard Marcus Smart (ankle) and power forward Danilo Gallinari (knee) are out.

The 76ers are also dealing with an injury to a key performer. Center Joel Embiid (foot) is listed as questionable to play in this game.

Each of the Celtics and 76ers are coming into this game while in the midst of a rough patch on their respective schedules. Boston has begun to turn things around, going 3-1 SU in the past four games, but the Celtics are 3-4 SU through their past seven games.

Philadelphia is just 2-2 SU and ATS over the past four games. However, the Sixers are 9-1 SU in their last 10 road games.

Embiid at less than 100% is not good news for the Sixers. A top contender in the NBA MVP odds, he’s scored at least 30 points in 10 of his last 12 games and has never gone lower than 26 points in any of those 12 games.

Pick: Boston Celtics -4.5 (-110).

In his last five games against the Celtics, Embiid has gone over 26 points just one. Granted that was a 41-point performance on Dec. 20, 2021 at Boston, but overall, the Celtics have contained him quite effectively. In fact, in two of the five games, Embiid was held to less than 20 points.

He’s hurting right now and that could slow him even further. Take Embiid under 30 points at odds of -106.

Celtics center Robert Williams III is set with a points total of 8.5 for this game. In his last two games against the Sixers, he’s counted 10 and 12 points. Williams has also gone over 8.5 points in two of his last three games. Play the over 8.5 points on Williams at a betting line of -118.

Assembling a same-game parlay, we’re going to Celtics-centric with a three-leg play. Start with Celtics center Al Horford over 5.5 rebounds (+106). Horford has exceeded this number of boards in each of the past two games.

Next, take Boston forward Jayson Tatum to hit 3+ three-point field goals. He’s drained three or more from beyond the arc in four successive games.

Finally, factor in the Celtics to win on the moneyline at -190. Add these three legs together and the combined odds are +317. Place a $10 bet and this same-game parlay will put $31.79 in your pocket if successful.

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