Opening Celtics vs 76ers Odds, Series Price & Spread
- Boston is a massive -330 favorite in the Celtics vs 76ers series odds ahead of their second round matchup
- Joel Embiid’s status for Game 1 and beyond is up in the air due to a sprained knee
- Check out the opening Celtics vs 76ers series odds here, plus the latest injury news and predictions
It took longer than expected, but the Celtics are through to the second round of the playoffs. Boston closed out Atlanta in Game 6 on Thursday, and immediately opened up as heavy favorites to take down Philadelphia in Round 2 per the NBA odds.
Celtics vs 76ers Series Odds
| Team | Series Spread | Series Winner | Series Total Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | OFF | +260 | OFF |
| Philadelphia 76ers | OFF | -330 | OFF |
The Celtics are currently listed as the -330 chalk to advance in the NBA playoff bracket, while the rest of the series markets are off the board.
The reason those markets are unavailable, is due to the health of Joel Embiid. The Process is currently a question mark for the series opener and beyond thanks to a sprained knee.
Game 1 of this Eastern Conference matchup goes down Monday in Boston, with Game 2 set for Wednesday.
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Odds as of April 27 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Philadelphia 76ers Betting Notes
Embiid’s injury is the focal point of this series and will ultimately determine if Philly can hang with Boston, the reigning NBA Championship odds favorites.
The MVP finalist suffered the injury in Game 3 of the Sixers four game sweep of the Nets, which forced him to sit out the series clinching win. Embiid hasn’t been able to practice since going down, and the team has no immediate timetable for his return.
It certainly helps that the Hawks forced the Celtics to six games, delaying the start of the next round. What isn’t encouraging however, is Doc Rivers telling the media a few days ago that the MRI on Embiid’s knee did not turn out well.
Doc Rivers said Joel Embiid's MRI "did not turn out well" after he had pain and swelling behind his knee:
"He was complaining about some soreness behind the knee, which is always a scary thing when it’s behind the knee. There was swelling already, which is way too early. So we… pic.twitter.com/OxmXOjK71n
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) April 22, 2023
Embiid just completed a prolific season, winning his second straight scoring title. He averaged 33 points and 10 rebounds per game, along with a career-best 4 assists. He also played in 66 games during the regular season, the second most of his career.
In four games against the Celtics this season, Embiid averaged 37 points and 12 boards. Despite his heroics, Philly was 1-3 versus Boston, which doesn’t bode well for their prospects of advancing even if he does play at some point.
Embiid’s availability is even more important given James Harden’s struggles in the opening round. Harden was a dismal 9-of-24 on two point attempts, and 7-of-30 in the paint. The Nets defense isn’t as strong as the Celtics, as Boston possesses more length and athleticism.
Boston Celtics Betting Notes
Boston’s 4-2 series win over Atlanta wasn’t their most impressive brand of basketball, but it was good enough to get the job done.
They have arguably the deepest roster in the league, which affords them the luxury of playing either big or small, without sacrificing any ceiling.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are one of the top duo’s remaining in the playoffs, while the team is littered with quality defenders like reigning DPOY Marcus Smart.
Joe Mazzulla on a #Celtics vs #76ers series:
"They got two All-Stars. They got a great bench. They got a great coach and I expect it to be really hard."
Full Interview: https://t.co/VptfPdpzHm
⚡️by @FDSportsbook pic.twitter.com/8R44GWXjwf
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) April 28, 2023
Boston may have struggled to defend Embiid, but they absolutely erased Tyrese Maxey in their regular season outings. The Celtics held Maxey to 35% from the field in four meetings, and 28% over the final three contests.
Maxey is one of the most efficient players in the NBA in transition, but the Celtics limited him to only nine of those attempts in four games. If they clamp down on Maxey, and Harden’s terrible shooting form continues, this series could be over quick with or without Embiid.
Celtics vs 76ers Series Prediction
Until we get an update on Embiid’s health, there’s no sense betting this series market. There’s absolutely no value on the Celtics at -330, while any 76ers ticket is just lighting money on fire if Embiid can’t go.
Celtics vs 76ers 2022-23 H2H Results
| Date | Away Team | Home Team | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 4 | Celtics | 76ers | PHI, 103-101 |
| February 25 | Celtics | 76ers | BOS, 110-97 |
| February 8 | 76ers | Celtics | BOS, 106-99 |
| October 18 | 76ers | Celtics | BOS, 126-117 |
One market you could explore if you’re pessimistic on Embiid’s health, and there’s lots of reasons you should be, is taking Boston to win in exactly four or five games. Each wager is available at very favorable odds (+450 and +245), and you can lock in a nice profit by betting both and banking on the outcome landing on four or five games.
The Celtics not only dominated Philly during the regular season, but in recent playoff battles as well. They’re 8-1 in their last nine postseason meetings versus the 76ers, most recently sweeping them in 2020.
Picks: Celtics to Win in Exactly 4 Games (+450) and 5 Games (+245)
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As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
