Celtics vs. 76ers Game 4 Updated Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions (Sunday, August 23)

Celtics vs. 76ers Odds

Odds updated as of Sunday at 11:00 a.m. ET and via Parx, which offers new customers a 20% profit boost + $500 risk-free wager on their first bet AND your bets automatically sync to the Action app.Learn more about BetSync here.

Coming off a blowout loss, the Philadelphia 76ers showed a ton of fight despite coming up short in Game 3 against the Boston Celtics. Boston grabbed the win and the late cover as 6-point favorites, winning 102-94 behind some late offense from Kemba Walker and strong defense against Joel Embiid.

For Philly, it’s win or go home. Let’s see if they have a bit of fight left.

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Boston Celtics

It is a bit cliché, but good teams find a way to win a game like Boston did in Game 3.

It wasn’t pretty. The team’s star was in foul trouble for most of the game and the starting center fouled out late with the game still up in the air. However, Boston got the job done. Kemba Walker looked like his normal self, reporting a team-high +13 Plus/Minus with Tatum in foul trouble, and Boston also got some help from the deeper end of its bench.

Now, it’s on the Celtics to put their rivals out of their misery. Boston can finish off the Sixers in Game 4 and prepare for a likely matchup with Toronto in the second round.

In Game 4, expect a more team-oriented effort. The C’s only made 15 assists on their 36 field goals and committed more turnovers in the third game of the series than the previous two games combined.

With Tatum hopefully staying out of foul trouble in Game 4, expect Boston to continue to throw doubles at Embiid, move the ball around more on offense, and finish off this series with the broom.

Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid played his best game of the series. But, he still followed the trend of the previous two games: running out of gas in the second half and failing to make an impact down the stretch.

To his credit, Embiid did fill up the stat sheet, posting 30 points and 13 rebounds, but most of his work was done from the foul line. He shot 14-of-16 from the charity stripe versus 7-of-20 from the field.

The Sixers' three starting wings also delivered solid offensive production: Tobias Harris, Shake Milton and Josh Richardson each scored at least 15 points. That trio must continue to perform well in order to take some of the burden off of Embiid — even if it may be too late to turn the series around.

Despite Philadelphia's gritty effort to achieve a late-game lead, its offense still struggled. The club shot under 30% from the field and greatly benefitted from a foul-shot disparity. The 76ers shot 10 more free throws than Boston.

The point is: This performance wasn't sustainable. The Sixers failed to take advantage of Jayson Tatum's early foul trouble. Tatum picked up three fouls in the first quarter — playing only 8 minutes — and yet Boston still owned a two-point lead at halftime. Philadelphia was given some help from its opponent and didn’t seize the opportunity.

For the Sixers, Game 3 was likely their last stand. Late game turnovers from Embiid and fouls sunk their Game 3 upset bid, and the fight may be out of this team. Embiid may be thinking about vacation at this point. Philly is out of options, and they simply aren’t in the same class as Boston – as demonstrated by the Sixers' 3-0 series deficit.

Betting Analysis & Pick

As I wrote in the Game 3 preview, I’m riding Boston until the Sixers give me reason to buy them. With what seems like only one game left in the series, now is not the time to back Philadelphia. Boston has outclassed them in every facet of the matchup, and the Sixers do not have the weapons to match Boston at any level.

Boston's line has been around -4 or -5 for each of the previous two games, but the spread has ballooned up to Celtics -8.5 for Game 4. That's a bit too high for my liking, but I think that the only way to bet the game is by backing Boston. I am going to stay away from a pregame side, because the Sixers stayed competitive in Games 1 and 3, but I would not advise taking Philly.

Boston knows Philadelphia is finished, and the Celtics have a valuable opportunity to polish off a series sweep on Sunday afternoon. The Sixers have no more fight left, down 3-0, with a barren, overpaid roster. Even if Embiid goes off, there's still not enough left in the tank.

If Philly stays in the game in the first half and can even take the lead — as the Sixers have been able to do in each game so far — then I will be playing Boston live or second half if I can get a spread closer to -4.

Pick: Wait for Boston to drop to -4 live.

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