Sunday’s four-game NBA playoff schedule begins at TD Garden with an Atlantic Division rivalry game between the No. 7 seed 76ers and No. 2 Celtics.
Just three seasons after their thrilling seven-game clash in the East semifinals, we’re in for another exciting series between them.
The Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum era embarks on a new chapter, but this time around, it’ll be a new supporting cast around Tyrese Maxey as he holds down the fort with Joel Embiid recovering from appendicitis surgery.
Boston is a 12.5-point favorite in Game 1, the second-highest spread of the day after OKC over Phoenix, with the total set at 213 points on bet365.
76ers vs. Celtics prediction, best bet
The East standings were seemingly open for the majority of the season, but they then shifted into a one-team race, with Cade Cunningham and the Pistons lapping the competition en route to the top seed and guaranteed homecourt advantage with 60 wins.
But suddenly, in late February heading into March on multiple sportsbooks, the Tatum injury news effect shifted all momentum back to Boston.
Now on FanDuel, Joe Muzzula and Co. have the shortest odds (+155) to represent the East in the NBA Finals. If it does happen, it’ll be East Finals appearance number six for the Brown and Tatum duo.
Their immediate focus, however, must be on Maxey, who is fresh off a massive 31-point showing in the Sixers’ Play-In victory over the Magic heading into Sunday’s matchup.
The Sixers and Celtics split the regular-season series at two wins apiece, but with so many lineup changes due to injuries, oddsmakers are shifting in favor of the C’s because they have more healthy bodies.
They could also be factoring in that Boston defeated Philly 114-98 in the season’s final matchup back in March, but several variables from that game should play out differently this time around.
For starters, Neemas Quieta posted a career-high 27 points and 17 rebounds in that contest. While the talent disparity from Embiid to reserves Andre Drummond and Adem Bona is significant, I anticipate Nick Nurse will iron out a few defensive adjustments to better contain Quieta.
Also, Quieta most likely won’t replicate that performance.
That game also occurred while George was still suspended, and Tatum remained out injured.
The addition of a healthy George is crucial for the Sixers, even if he no longer has the explosiveness he had in his early days with the Pacers. His defensive presence offers Coach Nurse another option to deploy against Tatum or Brown.
Outside of Derrick White, one can also make the case that the Sixers have a slight edge in guard play, especially with rookie V.J. Edgecombe, who proved he’s ready for the spotlight, stunning the Celtics in his first career game with 34 points and seven rebounds.
Betting on the NBA?
Given that, consider taking Philly with the points to cover a large 12.5-point spread.
With another signature Maxey moment fueling their momentum, the Sixers are riding high heading into this game.
Although the Celtics certainly have the edge in experience and will ultimately take the series, they’ll need some time to shake off the rust after waiting for their opponent.
The Play: 76ers +12.5 (-110, bet365)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
