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The Boston Celtics are betting favorites to win the 2023 NBA Finals and they will continue their postseason journey on Monday evening. Boston hosts the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden. The Celtics took care of business in their 2023 NBA playoff first-round series, beating the Atlanta Hawks in six games, while the Sixers made quick work of the Brooklyn Nets in a four-game sweep. Crucially, MVP favorite Joel Embiid (knee) has been ruled out for Game 1.

Caesars Sportsbook lists Boston as 9.5-point favorite, 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 214.5 in the latest 76ers vs. Celtics odds. Before locking in any Celtics vs. 76ers picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

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 four-plus seasons. The model entered the third week of the 2023 NBA playoffs a stunning 71-38 on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,800. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Sixers vs. Celtics and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Celtics vs. Sixers

  • 76ers vs. Celtics spread: Celtics -9.5
  • 76ers vs. Celtics over/under: 214.5 points
  • 76ers vs. Celtics money line: Celtics -480, 76ers +360
  • PHI: The 76ers are 24-18-1 against the spread in road games
  • BOS: The Celtics are 26-18 against the spread in home games
  • 76ers vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why the 76ers can cover

Philadelphia's calling card is offense, with the 76ers scoring 1.17 points per possession during the regular season and averaging 20.0 second-chance points per game in the postseason. The 76ers led the NBA in 3-point accuracy (38.7%) and free throw accuracy (83.5%) during 2022-23 and also converted more than 40% of 3-point attempts against Brooklyn. From there, the 76ers were fantastic on defense against the Nets, allowing fewer than 1.03 points per possession. That comes along with a stellar 82.7% defensive rebound rate and only 5.5 second-chance points allowed per game.

Philadelphia also limited Brooklyn to 18.3 free throw attempts and 35.5 points in the paint per game in the series, and the 76ers finished in the top eight of the NBA in defensive rating (112.7) during the regular season. The 76ers were also in the top six of the league in 3-point defense (34.8%), assist prevention (24.2 per game), and second-chance points allowed (12.7 per game) in 2022-23. See which side to back at SportsLine.

Why the Celtics can cover

Boston has a clear health advantage to go along with home-court advantage. The Celtics are operating at full strength, and Boston out-scored opponents by 10.1 points per 100 possessions at home during the regular season. Boston has a tremendous defensive infrastructure, but the Celtics are also fantastic on offense. They scored 1.19 points per possession against Atlanta in the first round, shooting 51.2% from the field and 40.6% on 3-pointers. Boston also averaged 27.3 assists and only 12.8 turnovers in the series, with the Celtics generating 15.2 fast break points and 54.7 points in the paint per game.

During the regular season, Boston was No. 2 in the NBA in offensive rating (117.3), and the Celtics finished with top-six marks in 3-pointers (16.0 per game), 3-point accuracy (37.7%), 2-point accuracy (56.7%), and free throw accuracy (81.2%). Boston is also led by a pair of star-level wings in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, both of whom are capable of exploding in any single game. See which side to back at SportsLine.

How to make 76ers vs. Celtics picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 221 points. The model also says one side of the spread has all of the value. See who to back at SportsLine.

So who wins Celtics vs. 76ers? And which side of the spread has all of the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is 71-38 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.