76ers vs Celtics Game 2 Odds and Picks

• Boston looks to take a two-game lead in their first round series after a 109-101 win in the opener over Philly
• Jayson Tatum led the way with 32 points, while Joel Embiid dropped a team-high 26 in Game 1
• Can Philly bounce back with a win or will the C’s grab another victory? Get the odds, preview, and best bet for Game 2 below

After an exciting Game 1 between these two Eastern Conference rivals, the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers will return to the hardwood for the second game of this series on Wednesday, August 19th, with tip-off 6:30 PM EST.

Boston came out firing but the Sixers – who are without Ben Simmons – put up a respectable fight, losing 109-101. However, the Celtics suffered a huge blow, who will be without Gordon Hayward for four weeks due to a severe ankle sprain.

Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics Game 2 Odds

Odds taken August 18th

The latest Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics Odds are favoring the C’s by 5.5 points on Wednesday.

Uphill Battle for Philly Without Simmons

It’s no secret that the Sixers have struggled at times this year, especially without Simmons.

Philly’s other star, Joel Embiid, enjoyed a hot start to Game 1, dropping 11 points in the first seven minutes of the opening quarter. He finished with 26 points and 16 rebounds.

The 76ers played sloppy defense in their Game 1 defeat, and turned the ball over 18 times.

Simmons is one of their best defensive players and without him on the floor, they’re going to have a hard time containing Boston’s dynamic wings in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

On a positive note, though, Brett Brown’s team tightened it up defensively in the second half, losing by just eight points. Philly also had five players who scored in double-digits, including Josh Richardson and Tobias Harris.

Tatum & Brown Leading the Way

While Hayward will miss the entire series, Boston still has two tremendous players in Tatum and Brown who continue to show out on a nightly basis.

Kemba Walker has also looked good, giving the C’s a solid trio of players who can contribute on both ends of the court.

Tatum led the way in Monday’s victory, pouring in 32 points and grabbing 13 boards while shooting 47.6 percent from the field. Brown scored 29, with 15 coming in the fourth quarter, while Walker also added 19 points. Between the three, they accounted for 80 of Boston’s 109 points.

Heading into the playoffs as the three seed in the East, the C’s are a legitimate contender in this conference. Hayward’s absence will be felt, but Marcus Smart is capable of stepping into his role as a starter.

Hayward looks to be out for about four weeks, which means he could also miss the Eastern Conference semis if they advance.

Boston did a solid job of defending Embiid in Game 1, which could prove to be key. Daniel Theis has been given the main task of guarding the Sixers big man, but on many occasions, Embiid was even double and triple-teamed, with Tatum or Brown stepping into to contest shots which resulted in five turnovers.

Tatum is coming off a career-high in points in Game 1 and will be looking to replicate his tremendous performance. Philly will have a hard time containing Boston’s trio, but if they can eliminate the number of turnovers, it could be a closer game.

However, I do believe the C’s will grab another victory in Game 2 and take a stranglehold on this series.

Pick: Boston -5.5 (-110)