The Philadelphia 76ers (33-26) and Boston Celtics (39-20) will square off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from TD Garden in Boston, Mass. The game will broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.
The Celtics are 9.5-point favorites over the 76ers on the spread (Celtics -9.5), with the over/under set at 221.5 total points. Boston is a -355 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Philadelphia is +280 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my 76ers vs. Celtics predictions and NBA picks for Sunday, March 1.
76ers vs Celtics Prediction, Picks
- 76ers vs Celtics pick: Derrick White Over 5.5 Assists (-130)
My 76ers vs Celtics best bet is on Derrick White over 5.5 assists. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
76ers vs Celtics Odds
| 76ers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -110 | 221.5 -105o / -115u | +280 |
| Celtics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -110 | 221.5 -105o / -115u | -355 |
76ers vs Celtics NBA Preview
Last Sunday, the Celtics defeated the Lakers by a score of 111-89 on NBC. They have another "Sunday Night Basketball" matchup against another rival as they host the 76ers tonight.
The Celtics defeated the Heat by two at home in February. With the exception of that one, 12 of their last 13 games have been decided by double digits.
Over that span, the Celtics are 10-3 while ranking sixth in offensive rating, second in defensive rating, and second in net rating.
All of those categories were helped by Friday night's 148-111 thumping of the Nets.
Jaylen Brown (28), Nikola Vucevic (28), and Payton Pritchard (22) all scored over 20 points while Derrick White set the table with seven assists while knocking down four 3s for all 12 of his points.
As a team, the Celtics shot a season-high 67% from the field and 65% from deep.
If recent history holds, they might have a battle with the 76ers tonight.
The Sixers have taken two of the first three meetings this season and all three games have been decided by two points or less.
Joel Embiid played in two of those games, but tonight he will be unavailable.
Embiid will miss at least the next three games with a right oblique strain and lately that has been problematic for the 76ers.
Philadelphia is 1-4 in its last five games without Embiid, and each of those games was decided by double digits.
Tyrese Maxey has been the rock for the team much of the year.
He is fifth in the league in scoring at 29.1 points per game and 12th with 6.8 assists per game.
Maxey has scored 26 points in each of his last nine games.
76ers vs Celtics Predictions, Betting Analysis
Derrick White Over 5.5 Assists
In the first two meetings against Philadelphia, White had four assists before seven assists in the last meeting.
That nearly matches his distribution numbers of late as he is averaging 6.8 assists per game over his last 10 games.
He has cleared this line in seven of those games with seven assists in all seven overs.
White is averaging 12.2 potential assists over that span. He also has 11 and 12 potential assists in his last two games against the Sixers.
I would expect some shooting regression from the Celtics after Friday night's blitzing of the Nets.
However, an average game from them should help White convert at least half of assists chances if he gets close to 12 attempts again.
Philadelphia is 23rd in assists allowed this season.
Tyrese Maxey 6+ Assists
White will not be the only one distributing in this game.
Maxey enters this game with seven assists in each of his last four games.
He has had six assists in six straight games against the Celtics with 14 and nine assists in the last two meetings.
I also expect him to see extra attention with Embiid and Paul George out, which may make him more of a passer tonight.
Kelly Oubre Jr. 15+ Points
Kelly Oubre Jr. has been a key cog with Embiid and George both out.
In that situation, he is averaging 16.5 points per game while scoring 15 points in 10 of 15 games this season.
He also enters this game hot, scoring 17 points in four of his last five games.
Payton Pritchard 15+ Points
Pritchard has thrived in his bench role as he has scored 20 points in seven of his last 10 games.
He has scored 15 points in four of his last five games against the Sixers.
Expect much of his damage to come behind the arc as he has made at least three triples in his last nine games.
76ers vs Celtics Best Bet
- Derrick White Over 5.5 Assists (-130, BetMGM)
76ers vs Celtics Parlay Picks
- Tyrese Maxey 6+ Assists
- Kelly Oubre Jr. 15+ Points
- Payton Pritchard 15+ Points
- Derrick White 6+ Assists
Parlay Odds: +370 via DraftKings
Spread
I'm staying away from the spread in tonight's matchup.
Moneyline
No play on the moneyline here.
Over/Under
My 76ers vs. Celtics betting prediction is Derrick White Over 5.5 Assists.
