Game: Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Odds: Sixers +7, Celtics -7
Total: 224
The main concern going into Friday night’s game between the visiting Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics is Joel Embiid of Philadelphia, who was sidelined due to illness from Wednesday’s defeat to New Orleans. Will the Sixers star play or will he be out again? As of this morning, Embiid is listed as questionable for tonight.
The Sixers big man is averaging 32.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game this season after playing in 16 of Philadelphia’s 18 games. When he is out of the lineup, the 76ers have a 0-2 record. In Wednesday’s 124-114 loss to the Pelicans, Philadelphia never held a lead and fell behind by as many as 16 points in the opening frame. The 76ers trailed by 15 points going into the second quarter after giving up 39 points in the first. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 33 points in the defeat.
Kristaps Porizingis won’t be available for Boston because he injured his left calf during a game against Orlando on November 24. The Celtics have not provided a timeline for Porzingis’ potential return, only stating that he will be reevaluated in early December. In 15 games, Porzingis is averaging 18.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
The Celtics, who have won all eight of their home games this season, defeated the visiting Chicago Bulls 124-97 on Tuesday to advance to the NBA’s in-season tournament quarterfinals. For Boston to stand a chance of winning a three-way tiebreaker against Orlando and Brooklyn, they needed to win that game by a minimum of 23 points. In that win, the Celtics drained a season-high 21 three-pointers. Jrue Holiday and Al Horford both had four.
After missing two games due to a sprained right ankle, Holiday made a comeback and finished with 14 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Point guard Derrick White also had 14 points and added seven assists.
This will be the third time these two teams have met this season. On November 8, Embiid scored 27 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as Philadelphia won 106-103 at home. On November 15, Embiid scored 20 points as Boston won 117-107 in Philly. The Celtics played without Jaylen Brown and Porzingis. In that win, Jayson Tatum tallied a game-high 29 points.
Boston is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games against Philadelphia. This season, the Celtics have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 14-4. They have won nine of their last 11 games. Boston is, however, just 2-5 ATS in their last seven games.
The Sixers are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference standings at 13-5. They have the fifth-highest cover rate, going 12-6 ATS in their 18 games (66.7%). Philly has not had much success against the number when playing the Celtics. In the last 14 games against Boston, Philadelphia is just 4-10 ATS. The Sixers have covered in two of their last three games and all three games went Over the total.
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