NBA Betting Preview: Celtics vs 76ers; Hawks vs Cavaliers

LeBron James will put his legacy on the line when he returns to the NBA Finals for the ninth time. Photo by Keith Allison (Flickr) CC License

The NBA returns with five games on Thursday night, and we’re turning our attention to the suddenly relevant 76ers versus the East-leading Celtics, two teams with dynamic young rosters that should be atop the Eastern Conference for years to come. We’re also breaking down the Cavs/Hawks matchup, and weighing in on whether Cleveland can extend its winning streak to ten games. If you’re interested in betting on either game, be sure to check out our expert advice to ensure you’re making smart bets and know where to get the best odds for every available wager.

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Game Preview

It wasn’t long ago that most basketball fans would have rather undergone an appendectomy than watch a game between the 76ers and Celtics. Philadelphia’s roster was full of undrafted free agents, and Boston had little to offer aside from a cache of future first-round picks. The Celtics turned the corner last season, nabbing the no. 1 seed in the East, and the Sixers are following suit this year (albeit to a lesser degree).

Now boasting four-time All-Star Kyrie Irving in lieu of Isaiah Thomas, Boston looks even better this year and has emerged as the true beasts of the East. Irving, who has meshed perfectly with the team’s promising young core, led the team on an early 16-game win streak to consolidate Boston’s position at the top of the standings. Philly, meanwhile, is finally enjoying a string of good health after years of cornering the market on debilitating injuries. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid have both been sensational and have transformed the Sixers from the NBA’s laughingstock to League Pass darlings.

Boston has the more promising present, but tonight’s match-up should give us a glimpse into which team has the brighter future.

Celtics vs 76ers Team Stats

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

Recent Results

76ers: Ben Simmons shook off a sprained ankle to lead the Sixers to a narrow 118-113 victory over the Wizards last night. The rookie point forward had 31 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in the win and was the difference down the stretch as Washington mounted a furious comeback in the fourth. It was Philadelphia’s sixth victory in the past eight games. The Wizards were able to close the gap by incessantly fouling Simmons (a 57-percent FT shooter) in the fourth quarter, sending him to the line 24 times (an NBA record for one quarter). The Rookie of the Year favorite only managed to hit 12.

Celtics: The Celtics lost to the Pistons 118-108 at home on Monday night. It was their first loss at home since their opener, and just their fourth defeat all season. Kyrie Irving had 18 points and nine assists for the Celtics, who fell behind 16-6 in the opening minutes of the game.

Head-to-Head Results

The Celtics beat the Sixers 102-92 in Philadelphia on October 20th behind 21 points from Kyrie Irving, 17 from Al Horford, and 15 from rookie sensation Jayson Tatum. The game was decided late in the fourth quarter when Boston went on a decisive 11-4 run keyed by sharp shooting and dominance on the boards. The Celtics shot 41.7-percent from the field overall, and held Philly to just 38-percent. They also outrebounded Philadelphia 64-56.

It was Boston’s first victory of the season, and the start of their 16-game winning streak. The Celtics also won against the spread and the game went under the 216.5-point total.

Marcus Smart’s defense and gritty play has been a huge part of Boston’s success. Photo by Keith Allison (Flickr) CC License

Notable Injuries and Absences

76ers: Justin Anderson, Joel Embiid, Markelle Fultz, T.J. McConnell

Markelle Fultz has been on the shelf with a sore right shoulder since October 25th, and is not expected to return until December 2nd. Back-up point guard T.J. McConnell exited Wednesday night’s game with a bruised left shoulder and is not expected to play. Joel Embiid will also be unavailable for duty as the Sixers continue to sit him on the second game of back-to-backs as a precautionary measure.

Celtics: Gordon Hayward

To paraphrase Rick Pitino, “Gordon Hayward is not walking through that door, fans.”

Betting the Moneyline

BEST 76ERS MONEYLINE: +300

BEST CELTICS MONEYLINE: -350

76ERS STRAIGHT-UP TRENDS

Philadelphia is 6-4 SU on the road this season
Philadelphia is 6-4 SU in their last 10 games
Philadelphia is 5-4 SU against the Eastern Conference
Philadelphia is 7-4 SU after a win this season
Philadelphia is 0-1 SU on no rest this season

CELTICS STRAIGHT-UP TRENDS

Boston is 8-2 SU at home this season
Boston is 8-2 SU in their last 10 games
Boston is 12-4 SU against the Eastern Conference
Boston is 2-1 SU after a loss this season
Boston is 1-0 SU after 2-3 days off

EXPERT MONEYLINE ADVICE: CELTICS (-400)

Boston and Philadelphia enter tonight’s game under very different circumstances. The Sixers find themselves on the road less than 24 hours after a grueling, down-to-the-wire win over the Wizards. The Celtics, meanwhile, haven’t played since Monday and took advantage of their light schedule by holding their first full practice in a month. Factor in the absence of Joel Embiid, who is averaging 22.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, and it’s easy to see why Boston is so heavily favored. Don’t overthink this one — pick Boston.

Betting Against the Spread

BEST 76ERS SPREAD: +8.5 (-110)

BEST CELTICS SPREAD: -8.5 (-110)

76ERS AGAINST THE SPREAD TRENDS

Philadelphia is 15-5 ATS this season
Philadelphia is 8-2 ATS on the road this season
Philadelphia is 8-1 as an underdog this season
Philadelphia covers ATS 75 percent of the time
Philadelphia is riding a two game losing streak ATS

CELTICS AGAINST THE SPREAD TRENDS

Boston is 17-4-1 ATS this season
Boston is 7-2-1 ATS at home this season
Boston is 10-4-1 as a favorite this season
Boston covers ATS 81 percent of the time
Boston is riding a one game losing streak ATS

EXPERT AGAINST THE SPREAD ADVICE: CELTICS (-8.5)

Boston and Philadelphia have both fared well against the spread this year, but we’re giving the edge to the Celtics thanks to their superior line-up, quality depth, and renewed focus. Good teams tend to bounce back from a bad loss, and Boston should stick to that script following their recent setback to the Pistons. Brad Stevens’ team has too much professionalism to stay down for long. Embiid’s absence also means the Sixers will be without their best rim protector, which should allow the Celtics to attack the lane with impunity.

Totals Betting

BEST OVER ODDS: 211.5 (-115)

BEST UNDER ODDS: 212 (-115)

76ERS TOTALS TRENDS

Philadelphia is 12-8 O/U this season
Philadelphia’s average margin of victory is 2.0

CELTICS TOTALS TRENDS

Boston is 11-11 O/U this season
Boston’s average margin of victory is 7.0

EXPERT TOTALS ADVICE: UNDER (-105)

Boston and Philadelphia combined for just 194 points when they met in October, coming well under the 216.5 total. The Celtics likely won’t have much trouble putting points on the board this time around, but we’re taking the under because Philly will. The Sixers will be without McConnell and Embiid, two players who are vital to their ball movement and spacing. Boston’s defenders are also long and quick enough that they won’t have to resort to hacking Simmons, as Washington did last evening when he took 24 free throws over a four-minute span. That questionable approach artificially inflated the score — even though Simmons only connected on 12 of those attempts — which is something you shouldn’t have to worry about tonight.