Player-Prop Picks for Celtics vs 76ers Game 3
By Jordan Tomiyama in NBA Basketball
Published:
- The Boston Celtics go into Game 3 as massive 7.5-point road favorites against a Philadelphia 76ers squad
- Will you be targeting Jayson Tatum to clean the glass against a depleted frontcourt?
- You’ll have to check out this article to see the best player prop bets, injury reports, and latest odds
I am fired up for this pivotal Eastern Conference First Round clash! As I break down the board for SportsBettingDime.com, the Boston Celtics hit the road to battle the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026. You can catch the 7:00 PM ET tip-off on Amazon Prime Video. Boston enters as a formidable road favorite (-325 moneyline at DraftKings, laying 7.5 points), riding the spectacular playoff performances of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Meanwhile, the home underdog 76ers (+260 ML at Caesars Sportsbook) desperately need Tyrese Maxey to stay competitive. The game total sits at 215.5, setting the stage for massive betting value.
BOS vs PHI Key Injuries to Know
Before laying down any cash, I always check the medical charts. The Celtics enter Friday with a completely clean bill of health. Their potent starting rotation and elite shooting depth remain fully intact. They want to get up and down the court and exploit their perimeter advantages. Boston’s injury report is completely blank, which is exactly what you want to see when backing a heavy road favorite in the playoffs.
Conversely, Philadelphia continues to navigate a monumental hurdle. Superstar center Joel Embiid (Abdomen) is officially listed as Doubtful for Game 3. While his overarching injury status remains day-to-day, the doubtful tag indicates he is highly unlikely to suit up. He is the sole player listed on their injury report, but his looming absence is the single biggest variable manipulating the prop betting landscape. Without their franchise cornerstone, the 76ers lose massive volume in both scoring and rebounding.
SPORTSBOOK
Celtics vs 76ers Player-Prop Odds
The player prop markets have seen massive line movement since opening. I always hunt for the best available NBA odds rather than settling for consensus numbers. One massive shift involves Tatum’s scoring prop. DraftKings opened at 23.5 total points. Bettors anticipate Tatum will lean into his role as a facilitator and rebounder alongside Brown.
On the Philly side, early action heavily favors VJ Edgecombe. His points prop opened at 15.5. Bettors clearly believe the 76ers will rely on his unexpected offensive burst to patch the gaping hole left in their frontcourt. Meanwhile, Maxey shoulders huge expectations. His points prop sits at 27.5, but it carries a juiced -105 at BetMGM on the over to keep the offense afloat.
Boston boasts a 120.0 Team Offensive Rating and a stellar +8.5 Net Rating. Their defining strength is a relentless, spaced-out perimeter attack. They put up a staggering 47.0 three-point attempts per game. This barrage is fueled by incredible facilitation, dishing out 27.5 assists per contest. This directly benefits the playmaking props of Derrick White and Tatum, who are primed to hit their facilitation totals by constantly finding open shooters on the wing.
Celtics vs 76ers Player-Prop Picks
After diving deep into the 2026 playoff series data, two specific betting angles stand out as highly exploitable edges. Keep reading because I am ready to cash some tickets!
Jayson Tatum Over 10.5 Rebounds (-122 at Caesars Sportsbook)
Without Embiid anchoring the paint, the 76ers are getting BULLIED on the glass. Philadelphia currently holds a poor Defensive Rating of 117.6 and grabs just 45.5% of available rebounds. That is a recipe for disaster against Boston’s dominant 54.5% rebounding mark. Tatum has taken full advantage of this compromised frontcourt. Through two games, he has pulled down 25 total rebounds, averaging an elite 12.5 boards per game in 71 minutes of action.
Tatum faces virtually ZERO resistance when crashing the defensive boards. He is officially 2-0 (100% success rate) versus a rebounding line of 10.5 in this playoff series. Removing the juice, this prop holds a true vig-free probability of 51.1%. With Andre Drummond acting as the sole glass-cleaner for Philly, backing Tatum to secure double-digit boards is my absolute favorite play on the Boston side.
VJ Edgecombe Over 15.5 Points (-116 at DraftKings)
The value lies squarely on the breakout rookie who has morphed into a primary scoring option. Edgecombe has racked up 43 points across two games, averaging an impressive 21.5 points per game. He is seeing an immense volume, with 36 field-goal attempts and a massive 26.05% Usage Rate. More importantly, he is converting efficiently, shooting 50.0% from the floor and 40.0% from beyond the arc.
If Boston has a single defensive flaw, it is their closeouts. They allow opponents to shoot 35.8% from three-point range. Edgecombe has gone over a 15.5 points prop line in 2 of 2 games (100% success rate) this postseason. Factoring out the sportsbook hold, the true vig-free probability is 53.7%. I am slamming the over on his points prop before oddsmakers adjust this line any higher!
Odds as of April 24, 2026, at 1:37 PM ET from Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings
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Jordan has worked in sports media for the last seven years, writing articles, managing social media, and covering sporting events for various media outlets. Jordan's work focuses on NBA, WNBA, college basketball, and the NHL.