76ers Look Much Improved after Trades at Deadline
The Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers will meet at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday in a battle of division rivals. The 76ers made significant improvements at last week’s trade deadline. They have since played like a team that is headed in the right direction. The Celtics failed to make any upgrades prior to the deadline and are looking like a team that needed a shake-up.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT LINE: 76ers -6.5; O/U: 226.
After a quiet deadline day last Thursday, the Celtics lost on a buzzer-beater to the Los Angeles Lakers. They then blew a 28-point lead before falling to the Los Angeles Clippers 123-112 on Saturday in a demoralizing defeat. The Sixers are coming off impressive wins over the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers since making a series of deadline moves. Joel Embiid went off for 37 points and 14 rebounds in Sunday’s 143-120 rout of the Lakers. Philadelphia moved one game ahead of Boston for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
This, That, and a Dart Throw
The Celtics are 35-21 overall. Saturday’s collapse began late in the first half after All-Star guard Kyrie Irving suffered a sprained knee that has him day-to-day entering the week. Gordon Hayward had a team-high 19 points off the bench. The other starters combined to shoot 14-for-42 from the floor without their leader. The Celtics took the first two meetings — both at home. Irving scored 40 points in an overtime triumph against the Sixers on Christmas Day.
The 76ers are 36-20 overall. Embiid was 12-for-16 from the floor in Sunday’s win. Newly acquired forward Tobias Harris had 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting in his second game with the team. Ben Simmons contributed seven assists and stunned the masses with a rare 3-point attempt that rattled in and out. Was it potentially signalling an addition to the dynamic All-Star’s repertoire? Only time will tell and if Simmons can hit a few three’s from time to time it will open things up more for the 76ers offense.
PREDICTION: 76ers 115, Celtics 103
NBA Betting Odds & Trends
| Boston Celtics |
|---|
| Boston is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games |
| Boston is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston’s last 6 games |
| Boston is 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road |
| The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston’s last 5 games on the road |
| Boston is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Philadelphia |
| Boston is 20-3 SU in its last 23 games when playing Philadelphia |
| Boston is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia |
| Boston is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia |
| Philadelphia 76ers |
|---|
| Philadelphia is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games |
| Philadelphia is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games |
| The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia’s last 6 games |
| Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia’s last 6 games at home |
| Philadelphia is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Boston |
| Philadelphia is 3-20 SU in its last 23 games when playing Boston |
| Philadelphia is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against Boston |
| Philadelphia is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Boston |
Next up:
Boston home to Detroit Wednesday, February 13
Philadelphia at New York Wednesday, February 13
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