Wells Fargo Center showcases the most anticipated NBA matchup on Wednesday evening. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Boston Celtics for the second time this season. Philadelphia is 8-2 overall and playing on the second night of a back-to-back set. Boston is 8-2 overall and 3-2 on the road, with the Celtics entering this tilt on a three-game winning streak. Jaylen Brown (illness) and Kristaps Porzingis (knee) are listed as questionable for Boston, with Joel Embiid (hip) questionable for Philly.
For this game, SportsLine consensus lists Boston as 5.5-point 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 224.5 in the latest Celtics vs. 76ers odds. Before making any 76ers vs. Celtics picks, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five seasons. The model enters Week 4 of the 2023-24 NBA season on an 80-43 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Celtics vs. Sixers and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the NBA odds and betting lines for Sixers vs. Celtics:
- Celtics vs. 76ers spread: Celtics -5.5
- Celtics vs. 76ers over/under: 224.5 points
- Celtics vs. 76ers money line: Celtics -219, 76ers +176
- Boston: The Celtics are 5-3-2 against the spread in the last 10 games
- Philadelphia: The 76ers are 9-4-1 against the spread in the last 14 games with no rest
- Celtics vs. 76ers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Celtics can cover
Boston is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. The Celtics finished second in the league in overall deficiency last season, and Boston is in the top three again, yielding fewer than 1.06 points per possession in the early going. Boston is also in the top three in field goal percentage allowed (43.3%), and the Celtics lead the NBA in preventing points in the paint (41.0 per game). The Celtics are also firmly in the top five in defensive rebound rate (73.9%), second-chance points allowed (11.8 per game), assists allowed (23.6 per game), and fast break points allowed (12.6 per game) to opponents.
Boston is also tremendous on offense, as evidenced by Monday's win over the New York Knicks in which the team shot 51% from the field and 44% from 3-point range. The Celtics are scoring more than 1.19 points per possession, leading to the NBA's best net rating (+13.7), and Boston's effective field goal percentage (56.7%) is near the top of the league. See which team to pick here.
Why the 76ers can cover
Philadelphia won the first matchup against Boston this season, producing at a high level on defense. The Sixers held the Celtics to 1.00 point per possession and 39.6% shooting while securing almost 79% of available defensive rebounds. Philadelphia is also dynamic on offense, as evidenced by 126 points on 50% shooting on Tuesday. The 76ers converted 34 of 35 free throw attempts on Tuesday, and Philadelphia is in the top five of the NBA with 27.9 free throw attempts per contest.
Philadelphia is also in the top five of the league in overall efficiency with 119.1 points per 100 possessions, and no team is averaging more fast break points (20.3 per game) than Philadelphia. The 76ers are shooting 48.7% from the field and averaging 57.4 points in the paint per game, and Philadelphia is also grabbing 31.6% of available offensive rebounds. The 76ers also benefit from being at home on Wednesday, where the team is 6-1 overall with a +10.9 net rating to begin the 2023-24 season. See which team to pick here.
How to make 76ers vs. Celtics picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 223 combined points. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick where one side has all of the value. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Celtics vs. Sixers, and which side of the spread has all of the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Sixers vs. Celtics spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $3,000 on its NBA picks dating back to last season, and find out.
