The Philadelphia 76ers picked up an impressive win over an Eastern Conference contender recently and are looking to add another this week. The 76ers host the Boston Celtics in a crucial game in the race for conference seeding.
Philadelphia has been streaking of late and has jumped up to the No. 3 spot in the East, but Boston is right on its tail. Both of these teams have the type of talent to make a run in the playoffs and it wouldn’t be a surprise if this is a preview of a postseason matchup.
The 76ers have the superior record and the home court advantage, but the oddsmakers have been big fans of Boston all year, so the spread may not be as large as expected. Philadelphia should still be the favorite, though, in NBA gambling.
This NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers will be held at the Wells Fargo Center in Los Angeles, California at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 20th, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
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Odds Analysis
The Celtics have a record of 43-27 on the year. They have won two straight games and sit just a couple games back of Philadelphia, with the Pacers sandwiched between them in the standings. Boston is currently the No. 5 seed in the East and would like to move up to have home court advantage in the first round. The Celtics have a mark of 17-17 on the road this year.
The 76ers are 45-25 overall and have won four straight games. Philadelphia knocked off the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks on the road last week and a win over the Celtics would send another message. The 76ers are 28-9 at home on the year and will aim to keep things rolling in this one in NBA gambling.
Injury Report
Boston forward Gordon Hayward has been sitting out recently as he remains in the NBA’s concussion protocol. Teams are cautious with head injuries and it remains to be seen if he will be available for this matchup. Hayward has not had the season he hoped, averaging 10.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists, which are numbers lower than his career averages. Keep an eye on his status.
Boston big man Al Horford is dealing with a minor knee injury but is expected to be available. He is averaging 12.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest. Philadelphia center Joel Embiid had a huge game in the win over Milwaukee, scoring 40 points. He is not going to play against the Hornets on Tuesday for load management purposes so should be raring to go in this one.
Player to Watch
Kyrie Irving -- The Celtics are going to be the underdogs, and they are going to rely on their star point guard to help the upset push. Irving is having a fantastic year and has been good of late. He is averaging 23.6 points, 7.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game on the season, shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from three-point range.
Irving had a dominant showing in the team’s most recent win over the Hawks, scoring 30 points, hauling down 11 rebounds, dishing out nine assists and even adding two blocks. If he can reach 30 points again in this one, Boston should feel good about its chances.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The oddsmakers have been waiting for a Boston breakout pretty much all season, and are going to give it too much respect in this one once again. The 76ers are the healthier team and playing at home. Philly is going to pull away in the second half and secure not only the win but also cover the spread in NBA gambling.
NBA ATS Pick: Philadelphia 76ers 117, Boston Celtics 109
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