Two Atlantic Division Rivals play in the second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs in Boston Celtics VS Philadelphia 76ers. This matchup promises to be packed with action for a series that kicks off on Monday.
Go through our preview to see the NBA Prediction Tonight for the Celtics VS 76ers. We have picks, odds, and predictions for both sides. You can also visit MatchPlug to view similar writeups for other NBA games.
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Predictions and Betting Preview for Boston Celtics VS Philadelphia 76ers Game 1 Round 2
- Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA.
- When: Monday, May 1st, 2023
- Time: 16:30 GMT
- Teams to play: Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.
- NBA Expert Picks: MONEYLINE 1.296
Odds by BetMGM and 1XBet.
Betting On Boston Celtics
Regular Season Record: 57-25
- 1XBet Spread: -8.5
- 1XBet Moneyline: 1.296
- 1XBet Over/Under: Over 213.5
- BetMGM Spread: -9.5
- BetMGM Moneyline: 1.25
- BetMGM Over/Under: Under 213.5
The Boston Celtics needed to play 6 matches to put a stop to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, but they eventually got the job done. The Celtics have a shorter breaker heading into the second round than the Philadelphia 76ers, although they have a homecourt advantage. Moreso, it appears that Boston has Philadelphia’s number this year.
During the regular season, the Celtics won three of four matches with the 76ers. The only win for the Phillies in those games was when Joel Embiid scored 52 points. It is hard to expect that type of performance from Joe again for the second round, especially since he is not 100% and it will it is not easy to get through Boston’s defence.
Boston ended the regular season second place in the league with a 110.6 defensive rating.
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Betting On The Philadelphia 76ers
Regular Season Record: 54-28
- 1XBet Spread: +8.5
- 1XBet Moneyline: 4.76
- 1XBet Over/Under: Under 213.5
- BetMGM Spread: +9.5
- BetMGM Moneyline: Over 213.5
- BetMGM Over/Under: 4.10
The Philadelphia 76ers are entering this game from a long break after a quick play in the first round. They ended the Brooklyn Nets in four games during the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, with Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris leading the scoring.
Maxey concluded the first round with an average of 21.8 points on 47.1 per cent shooting from the field, while Harris delivered 20.3 points on 56.7 per cent shooting.
Joe Embiid and James Harden are still top assets for the 76ers, but the fact that neither of these players played at a high level, and yet Philadelphia thrashed the Nets speaks loud about this team’s depth. Embiid’s knee injury raises concern amongst the Sixers, but he should make an appearance for Game 1 of the Boston series, thanks to the long break.
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MatchPlug Prediction
Embiid’s form is a source of worry for Philadelphia and there is no guarantee that Harden will take on his deadly form. Due to this, the Celtics are expected to win Game 1.
Final Prediction: Boston Celtics Moneyline.