The 76ers and Celtics have the biggest rivalry in the Eastern Conference, and tonight (December 1), a new chapter will be added to the storied history at TD Garden. These Atlantic division rivals already played each other twice this season, with each team securing one victory.
Online bookies predict a win for Boston, a team entering this clash as a 6.5-point favorite. The Celtics might take the court without Holiday and Porzingis, two of the best defensive players on Boston’s roster. However, things will balance out with the announced absence of 76ers center Joel Embiid. Let’s preview the best NBA bets today for this exciting matchup.
The Celtics Lack Depth
Boston has a 14-4 record, the best performance of any team after one month of the NBA regular season. The Celtics are a top 5 team in offensive and defensive rankings. However, despite the talent of the starting five, this team is handicapped by the lack of depth, something which might be tested tonight if center Kristaps misses the game.
There have been rumors that Luke Kornet will be tasked with containing 76ers star Embiid, but considering Joel is also questionable for the game, the Celtics can retain their high defensive rating.
Boston allows 106.7 points per game on average, ranking 3rd in the league for defensive scoring, and dominating under the rim with 43.4 rebounds per contest. On the offensive side of the ball, this team scores 116.3 points per night, shooting 47.2% from the field and 36% from beyond the arc.
The Celtics have an 8-game winning streak at home, with the Chicago Bulls being the last casualty on Wednesday with 124-97. Boston's best player of that night was Jaylen Brown, scoring 30 points, plus recording 6 defensive and 2 offensive rebounds.
Philly Moves the Ball Efficiently
The Sixers are 4th in the Eastern Conference standings with a 12-6 record and are playing equally impressive as the Celtics. The tough schedule is not doing them any favors, but Embiid and Tyrese Maxey serve as a reliable core of a team that can complement any position.
Yet, when Embiid is out of a game, problems start to emerge, as was evident against the Pelicans on Thursday, losing 124-114. That game was decided on the glass, with 13 offensive rebounds for the Pelicans compared to 8 for the 76ers. Tyrese Maxey was the most accurate player with 33 points, but none of his teams scored over 20 points.
Philadelphia is a productive team on offense, scoring 120.2 points per game and shooting 47.6% from the field with 37.3% efficiency from three-point range. Defensively, Philly allows 112.4 points per game and tends to out rebound opponents with 45.5 rebounds versus 41.8 rebounds opponents. In the post-James Harden era, Philly is moving the ball better, and a rested Embiid, if he plays tonight, will infuse energy for the big matchup.
Betting Prediction
The potential absences of key players on both teams increase the difficulty of predicting the outcome, yet, free bets betting sites have their perspective. Boston gets -110 odds to cover their spread and the same betting line applies to the Sixers. A moneyline wager on the Celtics offers -258 odds, while Philadelphia receives +210 odds for the same bet. The total is 222.5 points with equal -110 odds for the Over and Under bets.
Without Porzingis the Celtics are at a disadvantage versus the 76ers if they have Embiid on the court. It's wise to stay away from the points spread, but Boston still has its shooters on the roster and should win this game. Because both teams are efficient three-point shooters, the Over can be a good bet.
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