Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers 5/5/23 – On Wednesday night in their second round playoff clash against Philadelphia 76ers, Boston evened up the series at 1-1 by defeating them 121-87 and moving the series back to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday evening. NBA betting experts believe the 76ers to get the upper hand on Game 3.
Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers
Date & Time: Friday, May 5, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET
Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
TV: ESPN
Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers 5/5/23 Betting Odds
Celtics
Moneyline: -135
Spread: -2 (-115)
Total: 214.5 over (-110)
76ers
Moneyline: +115
Spread: +2 (-105)
Total: 214.5 under (-110)
Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers Analysis
In Game 1, the Boston Celtics were caught off-guard as the Sixers rode James Harden to an impressive win against them and took an early 1-0 series advantage. As shocking as it was to witness, both teams were playing without Joel Embiid – the league MVP and top scorer – which rendered this result especially unbelievable. The Celtics allowed themselves to become too lax on defense, allowing the Sixers to catch them by surprise and score. Game 2, however, saw the Celtics defense rise up immediately as Embiid would be starting in Game 2. The performance was outstanding as the Celtics defense proved exceptional and led them to an easy 121-87 win. Jayson Tatum, who typically averaged 30 points per game, found himself mired in foul trouble and only played 19 minutes and scored 7 points. Jaylen Brown scored 25 points while Malcolm Brogdon added 23.
Joel Embiid was not expected to play in Game 2, as he was considered doubtful for participation. By Wednesday afternoon, however, it had become clear that Embiid would play in Game 3. After their surprise win in Game 1, the Sixers appeared intent on making another statement by inviting Joel Embiid back for Game 2. Winning both road games early would be an essential first step to helping the Celtics rise from their previous struggles. But they couldn’t make their effort count, as the Celtics cruised to a comfortable 121-87 win on Wednesday. While Embiid was solid, his impact wasn’t felt much; he scored 15 points and grabbed 3 boards in 26 minutes of action. He made himself most visible on defense, notching five blocks against 20 threes made by the Celtics despite having some help defending those threes from him. Tobias Harris led the Sixers with 16 points and 7 rebounds, while Tyrese Maxey contributed 13 points.
Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers Against the Spread
Boston are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games. The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston’s last 6 games. Boston are 8-3 SU in their last 11 games. Boston are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games against Philadelphia. Boston are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games against Philadelphia. The total has gone OVER in 8 of Boston’s last 9 games on the road. The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston’s last 6 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia.
Philadelphia are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia’s last 5 games. Philadelphia are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia’s last 5 games against Boston. Philadelphia are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games at home. The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia’s last 6 games when playing at home against Boston. Philadelphia are 3-6 ATS in their last 9 games played in May.
Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers Free Pick
The Boston Celtics are unquestionably the superior and more reliable team, so they should be prioritized over any others. However, the Celtics have also played below expectations during these playoffs, and having Joel Embiid back does make things interesting. Philadelphia offers an incredible home crowd and De’Anthony Melton and Georges Niang should benefit. Embiid had a nice showing in his minutes and should remain fresh following this blowout win for Philadelphia. According to the best basketball betting analysts, the 76ers are well capable of winning this home matchup despite being the underdog.
Free Pick: Philadelphia 76ers +2 (-105)
