The Philadelphia 76ers came out hot to earn a Game 1 victory on the road. Can they make it 2-0, or will the Boston Celtics bounce back? We’ll find out in Game 2 from TD Garden on Wednesday, May 3. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 pm ET while airing on TNT. The Celtics enter this game as 10-point favorites with the total set at 216.5. How will this one play out? Let’s dive into the Celtics vs. 76ers predictions and odds below.
Celtics vs. 76ers Odds
- Spread: Celtics -10
- Total: 216.5
Odds via PointsBet. New to this sportsbook? Check out our PointsBet Review to find out how to redeem up to $250 in second-chance bets.
Game Info
- Date: Wednesday, May 3
- Time: 8 pm ET
- Location: TD Garden – Boston, MA
- TV: TNT
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Celtics Betting Trends
- Celtics are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 overall.
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76ers Betting Trends
- 76ers are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- Under is 11-3 in 76ers last 14 games playing on 1 days rest.
Celtics vs. 76ers Predictions
The 76ers won Game 1 outright on the road, and it feels like the Celtics underestimated them due to Joel Embiid’s absence. The newly-minted MVP is listed as questionable for Game 2. Here’s what Philadelphia head coach Doc Rivers had to say about Embiid’s chances of playing on Wednesday:
"If he can play, he plays. If it’s 50/50 we would probably err on the other side because we’ve done that all year. So we’re just not going to take any chances." -Doc Rivers
Joel Embiid taking steps to return from knee sprain, play in Game 2 vs. Celtics https://t.co/0gU7VVWHrr— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) May 2, 2023
Regardless, the Celtics should come out with a vengeance after dropping Game 1 in shocking fashion. Boston is 6-0-1 against the spread following an ATS loss. If you have been reading these NBA Playoff Prediction articles, then you know we love the zig-zag theory here at Props.com.
As a reminder, the “zig-zag theory” is a playoff betting strategy where you take a team coming off an outright loss and bet them against the spread in the next game of the series. It’s basically saying the team that lost the previous game will come out with more motivation and something to prove. The Celtics fit that description perfectly in Game 2.
Boston guard Marcus Smart is questionable with a chest contusion. However, most reports seem optimistic that he’ll play. After all, he finished Game 1 after sustaining the injury.
Regardless of Embiid’s status, look for the Celtics to pull away and win this game by double-digits.
The Pick: Celtics -10 | -110 at PointsBet