76ers vs Celtics Thursday Prediction | NBA Picks Today, Best Bets
John Canady
Host · Writer
The Philadelphia 76ers will travel to the Boston Celtics on Thursday night for an Eastern Conference showdown. Philly is on a two-game losing streak and has a record of 1-9 in its last ten games. Meanwhile, the Celtics are 8-2 in their previous ten matchups and are looking to extend their winning streak to three games.
With the Sixers playoff hopes slowly drifting away, expect Philly to play with a sense of urgency as they hope to keep their slim chance alive. However, under no circumstance will Boston take them lightly, considering a shorthanded 76ers team has nearly beaten them.
76ers vs Celtics
- Location: TD Garden – Boston, Massachusetts
- Where to Watch: TNT/Max
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Spread: Celtics -14 | Total: 220.5
- Moneyline: Celtics -1000 | 76ers +660
Please be aware that betting odds may change after the publication of this article.
76ers vs Celtics Best Bet: Celtics -14
The Sixers enter this matchup with a laundry list of injury reports, including Joel Embiid, who has been ruled out for the season. Philadelphia’s injury luck this season has been one of the biggest reasons for their horrid year, and it doesn’t seem to be getting better any time soon. Meanwhile, the Celtics have seemed to find their groove lately as they gear up toward what they expect to be a deep postseason run. Assuming Boston doesn’t play with their food in this matchup, this should be a blowout, regardless of whether the C’s are fully healthy or missing a couple of starters.
76ers vs Celtics Best Total Bet: Over 220.5
Boston’s ability to score at a high rate alone makes the over very intriguing heading into this battle. And considering each of the three matchups this season has surpassed the 220.5-point set total, it won’t be surprising to see these squads hit the over again, even if it’s a one-sided scoring affair. A final score of 124-104 seems realistic.
76ers Best Player Bet: Quentin Grimes 20+ Points +124
Quentin Grimes has flipped a switch recently, playing with the confidence that the New York Knicks desperately hoped he would when they drafted him. The guard has been on a tear over the last three games since the start of March, averaging 29.3 points per game. Although I’m not buying the hype that this run will continue, I expect Grimes to stay aggressive after a 30-point outing on Tuesday, especially if the Sixers head into battle shorthanded.
Celtics Best Player Bet: Jayson Tatum 8+ Assists +138
Jayson Tatum has showcased his versatility all season, averaging 26.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. The Duke product has consistently proved he was one of the top scorers in the league, but his improved passing hasn’t gone unnoticed. Tatum has emphasized getting his teammates involved and is coming off a night of rest. Expect the playmaker to be playing with high energy on Thursday. And surrounded by teammates like Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, who can put up 40 points a piece in his absence, he’ll have plenty of options to put his trust in moving the ball. Not to mention, Tatum has 8+ assists in four of his last six games.
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