After a surprising win for the 76ers in Sport 1 of the Japanese Convention semifinals, the Celtics struck again with a vengeance in Sport 2 with a dominant victory to even the collection.
Now, the Sixers play host to the NBA title favorites in Sport 3, although Boston is dealing because the clear highway favourite after pummeling Philly simply two days in the past.
Can the Celtics deal with enterprise as soon as once more, or will the 76ers stave off the guests in an important spot?
Right here’s how we’re betting Friday’s contest, which ideas off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
76ers vs. Celtics odds
(through BetMGM)
- Celtics -2.5 (-110), moneyline -140
- 76ers +2.5 (-110), moneyline +115
- O/U 214.5 (-110)
76ers vs. Celtics prediction and evaluation
So let me get this straight: with Joel Embiid on the shelf, the 76ers scored a highway upset over the Celtics in Sport 1.
And when the not too long ago anointed NBA MVP winner returned two days later, the Sixers have been blown out by 34 factors in a Sport 2 whimper.
So what, precisely, can we count on when these groups meet once more on Friday?
Whereas these two outcomes are confounding on the floor, they aren’t all that shocking based mostly on what we’ve seen all 12 months lengthy.
As we broke down in our Sport 1 preview, Philadelphia had truly been higher this season on offense and protection in its first 17 video games with out its MVP – and that was earlier than that series-opening win.
That isn’t to say this staff is definitely extra harmful with out the most effective gamers on the planet.
Somewhat, the Sixers’ model of play has been higher suited to success after they unfold the ground and fireplace threes at will.
And after they don’t, the outcomes can look reasonably grim.
We noticed that on Wednesday, when Philly scored simply 87 factors on 39.4% capturing and hit simply six 3-pointers your complete sport.
Tobias Harris in some way led the staff in scoring with a meager 16 factors, as Embiid (15) and James Harden (12) shot a mixed 26.1% capturing on simply 23 mixed makes an attempt.
Betting on the NBA?
It wasn’t all dangerous, although: the 76ers held the Celtics to 46.7% from the ground – their worst effectivity this whole postseason – although Boston did sink 20 triples en path to its dominant win.
We’ve seen this staff maintain torrid capturing stretches previously, however that also appears like a recipe ripe for regression forward of Sport 3.
Philly’s offense will certainly present extra indicators of life in entrance of its residence crowd, however I’m shopping for what we noticed from a fired-up Celtics staff on the defensive finish, and a dramatic dip in turnovers left fewer simple scoring probabilities for the Sixers in transition.
Equally, Boston was clearly deterred from feasting inside with Embiid patrolling the paint, and he’ll be again on the courtroom for Sport 3.
The below has cashed in every of his final three begins for the 76ers, and I don’t see that altering on Friday.
