Game: Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Odds: Celtics -5, Sixers +5
Total: 226.5
The Philadelphia 76ers’ NBA in-season tournament loss to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, 132-126, won’t give them much time to reflect. Tonight, the Sixers host the revitalized Boston Celtics, one night after their eight-game winning streak was snapped. In the loss to Indiana, Joel Embiid finished with 39 points and 12 rebounds after making all 17 of his free throws. Tyrese Maxey contributed 27, De’Anthony Melton scored 30, and Tobias Harris added 22 points. Philadelphia came within four points twice in the last thirty seconds, but could not secure a win.
Maxey scored a career-high 50 points against the Pacers two nights prior. He was unable to duplicate the feat last night, but he was still very productive. Maxey has been ever since James Harden was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite shooting just 9-of-23 from the field, Maxey contributed four rebounds and five assists in the loss.
With 10:40 left in the fourth quarter, Harris collided with Bruce Brown, appearing to injure his neck. Harris went back to the locker room but did return. It’s unclear how he will feel going into the Celtics game. He is not listed on the Sixers injury report.
Despite having left hip soreness and being graded as questionable, Embiid delivered another outstanding performance. Also, it’s unclear if Embiid will be accessible since Philadelphia is playing on back-to-back nights. It has not yet been announced if Embiid will sit tonight.
In the meantime, the Celtics will be trying to win their fourth game in a row. On Monday, Boston easily defeated the New York Knicks, 114-98. For the second straight game, Jayson Tatum (35 points), Jaylen Brown (22 points), and Kristaps Porzingis (21 points) all scored at least 20 points.
Porzingis is listed as questionable for tonight. He has a right knee contusion. Tatum shot 13-of-23 overall, scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter after missing seven of his first eight 3-point attempts. Before exploding offensively as a unit in the fourth, the Celtics struggled in the third.
The Celtics schedule doesn’t get any easier with a matchup against the Sixers, another fierce rival, following a challenging game against a long-standing opponent. Boston will continue its road trip after tonight’s game with visits to Toronto, Memphis, and Charlotte.
Philly is now 8-1 in its last nine games. In their past ten, the Sixers are 8-2 ATS. They are also 6-1 ATS in their last seven games at home. They haven’t done well against the number when playing Boston at home. In the last seven games against the Celtics at the Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia is just 2-5 ATS.
Boston is 8-2 SU in its last ten games and 5-2 SU in its last seven on the road. A 5-point favorite tonight, the Celtics have covered in nine of the last 13 games against the Sixers. Boston is also 9-2-1 ATS in its last 12 games played in November.
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