After a stunning win for the 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Celtics struck back with a vengeance in Game 2 with a dominant victory to even the series.
Now, the Sixers play host to the NBA title favorites in Game 3, though Boston is dealing as the clear road favorite after pummeling Philly just two days ago.
Can the Celtics take care of business once again, or will the 76ers stave off the visitors in a crucial spot?
Here’s how we’re betting Friday’s contest, which tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
76ers vs. Celtics odds
(via BetMGM)
- Celtics -2.5 (-110), moneyline -140
- 76ers +2.5 (-110), moneyline +115
- O/U 214.5 (-110)
76ers vs. Celtics prediction and analysis
So let me get this straight: with Joel Embiid on the shelf, the 76ers scored a road upset over the Celtics in Game 1.
And when the recently anointed NBA MVP winner returned two days later, the Sixers were blown out by 34 points in a Game 2 whimper.
So what, exactly, can we expect when these teams meet again on Friday?
While those two results are confounding on the surface, they aren’t all that surprising based on what we’ve seen all year long.
As we broke down in our Game 1 preview, Philadelphia had actually been better this season on offense and defense in its first 17 games without its MVP – and that was before that series-opening win.
That isn’t to say this team is actually more dangerous without one of the best players on the planet.
Rather, the Sixers’ style of play has been better suited to success when they spread the floor and fire threes at will.
And when they don’t, the results can look rather grim.
We saw that on Wednesday, when Philly scored just 87 points on 39.4% shooting and hit just six 3-pointers the entire game.
Tobias Harris somehow led the team in scoring with a meager 16 points, as Embiid (15) and James Harden (12) shot a combined 26.1% shooting on just 23 combined attempts.
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It wasn’t all bad, though: the 76ers held the Celtics to 46.7% from the floor – their worst efficiency this entire postseason – though Boston did sink 20 triples en route to its dominant win.
We’ve seen this team sustain torrid shooting stretches in the past, but that still feels like a recipe ripe for regression ahead of Game 3.
Philly’s offense will surely show more signs of life in front of its home crowd, but I’m buying what we saw from a fired-up Celtics team on the defensive end, and a dramatic dip in turnovers left fewer easy scoring chances for the Sixers in transition.
Similarly, Boston was clearly deterred from feasting inside with Embiid patrolling the paint, and he’ll be back on the court for Game 3.
The under has cashed in each of his last three starts for the 76ers, and I don’t see that changing on Friday.
76ers vs. Celtics pick
- Under 214.5 (-110 BetMGM)