The first couple of games of the NBA playoffs didn’t disappoint at all. The Philadelphia 76ers stayed on the Boston Celtics‘ toes throughout most of their Game 1 matchup even despite Ben Simmons’ absence, even taking a 2-point lead in the fourth quarter before the Celtics’ late run.
Joel Embiid was outstanding in the first half but struggled to keep the momentum going in the second, mostly because of his reluctance to post up. As for Boston, Jayson Tatum was lights out in the first half and Jaylen Brown carried the load in the final two quarters.
Philadelphia is going to need more production from Al Horford (6 points) and Tobias Harris (15 points on 15 shots) if they want to have a shot in this series, although Alec Burks (18 points) and Mattise Thybulle (2 steals, 1 block) gave them great minutes off the bench.
Boston’s young duo of Tatum and Brown combined for 61 points and 19 rebounds while Kemba Walker chipped in with 19. On a concerning note, Gordon Hayward limped out of the court with an ankleinjury and will miss the next 4 weeks.
Head-To-Head: Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers
Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers have faced off in the playoffs more time than any other pair of teams in the league. Up to this day, Boston holds a 59-47 lead in their all-time playoff record, as well as a 262-190 edge in the regular season. This year, the Sixers took 3 of 4 but Ben Simmons was still healthy.
Match Information: Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers
Date:Wednesday, Aug. 19
Time:6:30p.m. ET
Location: HP Field House, Orlando
Injuries
Boston Celtics
Gordon Hayward: Injury, Out
Jaylen Brown:Thigh, Day-to-day
Philadelphia 76ers
Ben Simmons:Knee, Out for the season
Glenn Robinson III:Oblique, Out
Zhaire Smith:Knee, Out for the season
Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers Game 2: Odds and Predictions
The Boston Celtics enter this game as 4.5 point favorites again even despite Gordon Hayward’s possible absence. Moreover, it seems like oddsmakers are expecting more scoring from both teams as they face off again.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | |
|---|---|---|
| Handicap | Celtics -4.5 | Celtics -5 |
| Game Total | o/u 215.5 | o/u 215 |
* Odds via DraftKings & FanDuel
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Game 2:Wed, Aug 19 Philadelphia at Boston, 6:30 ET, TNT, NBA League Pass
