A pair of Atlantic Division squads face off on Monday at TD Garden in Boston. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers take the floor in a matchup between teams with 15-15 records through 30 contests. Jayson Tatum (ankle), Romeo Langford (neck) and Dennis Schroder (illness) are questionable for Boston, with Al Horford, Juancho Hernangomez, Josh Richardson and Grant Williams ruled out due to health and safety protocols. Joel Embiid (ankle), Danny Green (hip) and Tyrese Maxey (quad) are questionable for the Sixers, with Andre Drummond, Furkan Korkmaz, Shake Milton and Georges Niang out due to protocols.
Caesars Sportsbook lists the Celtics as 3.5-point home favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over-under, is 213.5 in the latest odds. Before you make any NBA predictions with the 76ers vs. Celtics match-up, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 10 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 46-23 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $1,900. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Sixers vs. Celtics and just locked in its NBA picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Celtics vs. Sixers:
- 76ers vs. Celtics spread: Celtics -3.5
- 76ers vs. Celtics over-under: 213.5 points
- 76ers vs. Celtics money line: Celtics -160, 76ers +140
- PHL: The 76ers are 9-8 against the spread in away games
- BOS: The Celtics are 6-6-1 against the spread in home games
Why the 76ers can cover
Philadelphia has a favorable defensive matchup in this game. The Sixers are No. 2 in the NBA in blocked shots, averaging 5.9 per game, and Philadelphia is above-average in free-throw prevention. Opponents are attempting only 19.7 free throws per game against the 76ers, and the Celtics are in the bottom 10 of the NBA in offensive efficiency. Boston is scoring only 1.08 points per possession, with the No. 22 mark in the NBA in field-goal percentage.
On the opposite end, the 76ers are fantastic at the free-throw line, making 81.4 percent of attempts, and Philadelphia is No. 2 in the NBA in both turnover avoidance (12.5 per game) and points allowed off turnovers (14.4 per game). The Celtics are below-average in free throw prevention, with the 76ers able to potentially exploit that to create an advantage.
Why the Celtics can cover
Boston's defense is quite strong this season, and that manifests in the team's statistical profile. The Celtics are allowing only 107.5 points per 100 possessions, an above-average figure, and Boston is limiting opponents to 44.2 percent shooting. The Celtics are in the top 10 of the NBA in overall shooting efficiency allowed, and Boston does great work on the defensive glass. The Celtics are securing 73.7 percent of available defensive rebounds, with opponents only scoring 12.3 second-chance points per game.
Boston's opponents are producing 21.9 assists per game, fourth-fewest in the NBA, and the Celtics are walling off the rim in allowing only 43.3 points per game in the paint. Boston also produces 5.3 blocked shots per game and gives up only 11.4 fast break points per contest, with Philadelphia entering the night as the NBA's worst offensive rebounding team on a per-possession basis.
How to make Celtics vs. 76ers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting 216 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over 50 percent of the time. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins 76ers vs. Celtics? And which side of the spread hits over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
