The Boston Celtics (44-18) and Philadelphia 76ers (21-40) will meet in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The game will be broadcast live on TNT.
The Celtics are 13.5-point home favorites over the Sixers on the spread (Celtics -13.5), with the over/under set at 218 total points. Boston is a -900 favorite to win outright, while Philly is +600 to pull off the upset.
Let's get to my 76ers vs. Celtics predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, March 6.
76ers vs Celtics Prediction, Picks
Over/Under
There's an opportunity for a contrarian play considering the market bet the total down to 218 after it opened at 225. With the 76ers officially shutting down Joel Embiid for the rest of the season, Philadelphia looks like a team that has completely thrown caution to the wind and abandoned any defensive principles it might've had.
Spread
My model projection makes Boston a -13-point favorite in this matchup, giving neither side much value.
Moneyline
I could only look to the Celtics in this spot, but with their odds as high as -900, the moneyline is an easy pass for me.
My Pick: Over 218
76ers vs Celtics Betting Odds
| 76ers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+13.5 -110 | 218 -110 / -110 | +600 |
| Celtics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-13.5 -110 | 218 -110 / -110 | -900 |
- 76ers vs. Celtics spread: Celtics -13.5
- 76ers vs. Celtics over/under: 218 total points
- 76ers vs. Celtics moneyline: Celtics -900, 76ers +600
- 76ers vs. Celtics best bet: Over 218 (-110)
My Celtics vs. 76ers best bet is on the Over at 217.5 total points, with the best line currently available at BetMGM. But as always, make sure to shop for the best line using our live NBA odds page.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics NBA Preview
Although injuries to Embiid and Tyrese Maxey could explain the drop in the total, I have a different view on how this game could play out. Injuries to star players create opportunities for others on the team to show their worth and ability to compete on the biggest stage.
Given that the NBA has such a high level of talented players, even the guys coming off the bench are more than capable of putting up big numbers.
There's also the thought that the 76ers are playing somewhat freely now that the expectations have dramatically decreased. Despite its 21-40 record, Philadelphia can still sneak into the play-in game as the No. 10 seed. The 76ers trail the Bulls by 2.5 games, but the team's focus seems to be more on next season than anything else.
Defensively, it's difficult to project any improvement with this 76ers unit that currently ranks 25th in efficiency with a 115.9 rating.
Thus, the Celtics can certainly have their way on offense without much resistance.
Fringe players love to be a part of these matchups because they can come into the game and be aggressive right from the start.
Therefore, I can envision a scenario where the levels remain relatively high even when the Celtics turn to their bench. These bench players might fit the profile of players we want to target when building our same-game parlay.
76ers vs Celtics Best Bets
Given the 76ers' lengthy injury report, Quentin Grimes is one player who could have a more significant role for the visiting team. Grimes has started eight of 11 games with Philadelphia following his trade from the Mavericks.
Considering he started just 12 of the 47 games he played for Dallas, we've clearly seen an uptick in his usage.
However, since Grimes isn't necessarily a nailed-on starter, I still consider him a peripheral player off the bench. The current circumstances dictate that he will likely play more minutes for Philadelphia.
His points + assists prop of 21.5 (-115) and points + rebounds + assists prop of 26.5 (-135) look favorable given that he has cleared both lines in three straight games.
With Grimes being a restricted free agent at the end of the season, the 76ers are closely exploring whether he'll have a part in their future plans.
As a result, even if this game turns into a lopsided affair in favor of the Celtics, there's a decent chance Grimes will still get his minutes so the team can continue to monitor him as much as possible.
Combining the over in both Grimes' props with the game surpassing 220.5 points would boost our same-game parlay odds to +215 at FanDuel.
Celtics vs 76ers Best Bet
- Over 218 (-110)
Same Game Parlay Picks
- Quentin Grimes Over 22.5 Points + Assists
- Quentin Grimes Over 27.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists
- Over 218
Parlay Payout: +215
76ers vs. Celtics Betting Trends
