On Wednesday night, the Sixers and Celtics meet for the first time this season.

Let’s get into our Sixers-Celtics betting preview, including odds, boosts, and picks.

Preview

The Sixers will play host to the Boston Celtics for two games in three nights starting with Wednesday’s meeting. This marks Philadelphia’s first game since their clash road clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder was cancelled due to COVID-19 contact tracing.

If you’re in PA, you can get 50-1 odds on Joel Embiid to score tonight right here with FOX Bet.

Prior to the shutdown, a shorthanded Sixers squad got blown out last Monday 112-94 in Atlanta, then squared off against another team decimated by health and safety protocols, taking down the Miami Heat in back-to-back games at home. They finished off the week by dropping a disappointing 106-104 result in Memphis last Saturday in a game that marked the return of Ja Morant.

The Celtics enter play at 8-4 in a somewhat-surprising first place position in the Eastern Conference. After rattling off five straight wins over the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, and Orlando Magic, the Celtics got stomped by 30 at home in a loss to the New York Knicks.

As has been the case recently, a number of players will miss this game due to Health & Safety Protocols including:

Celtics

  • Carsen Edwards
  • Jayson Tatum

Sixers

  • Vincent Poirier

Seth Curry, who’s been on the shelf following a positive test for COVID-19, has been cleared of health and safety protocols and has entered a reconditioning phase. He will miss this game as he looks to get back into game shape.

 

Sixers vs. Celtics Odds

Here’s the line for the Sixers and Celtics at DraftKings Sportsbook:

  • Spread: Sixers -5, Celtics +5
  • Moneyline: Sixers -200, Celtics +165
  • Total: 221.5

And here are the current best available odds for the Sixers (may not display on Google AMP pages):

 

Bets We Like With a Sixers Win

FiveThirtyEight gives the Sixers a 57% chance of winning with a -2 point line. Philadelphia’s implied win probability based on the moneyline is 64%.

Get started with DraftKings Sportsbook and grab up to $1,000 in free bets or get 100-1 NFL odds this weekend right here.

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Sixers to Win and Over 221.5 Points (+180, DraftKings)

A season ago, the Sixers felt like they’d finally slayed the Boston beast, winning the first three matchups between the teams by a combined 31 points. Then Boston handed Philadelphia a 116-95 loss. The teams met in the first round of the Orlando bubble playoffs. Boston swept a Sixers squad that was without point guard Ben Simmons, and Philadelphia looked both lackadaisical and checked out. It left such a sour taste in ownership’s mouth that Brett Brown was relieved of his head coaching duties, Doc Rivers was hired to the same position, and Daryl Morey was brought in to head basketball operations.

Both teams have seen the total points reach at least 221 points in two of their past three games. Boston’s 75 point effort in their last game should stand out as an anomaly. The Sixers have scored 104, 125, and 137 points over their past three games and it stands to reason that Joel Embiid’s presence in the lineup will provide plenty of inside-out looks.

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Joel Embiid 1+ Dunks and Sixers to Win (+100, FOX Bet)

Per the NBA’s official shot tracker, Joel Embiid finishes in the restricted area 3.1 times per game on 4.4 attempts. He’s often a soft finisher at the rim, but games against the Celtics have been chippy traditionally. If Embiid looks to set the tone on the interior early, he could jam one down and assert his dominance in the first quarter.

This odds boost from FOX Bet gives better value than a Sixers moneyline bet alone and has an attainable outcome attached.

 

Bets We Like With a Celtics Win

Jaylen Brown Over 24.5 Points and Celtics to Win (+300, FOX Bet)

Jaylen Brown is averaging 25.8 points per game this season and has had 25+ points in two of his last three games. With Jayson Tatum ruled out, Brown will be leaned on heavily to shoulder the scoring load. Kemba Walker will get his fair share of field goal attempts, but he’s still working his way back into the lineup following a knee injury that cost him the all but one of the Celtics’ games this season.

If you’re planning on taking Boston to win, there’s value in taking Jaylen Brown over 24.5 points and the Celtics to win.

Bets We Like Independent of Outcome

Joel Embiid to Score 30+ Points (+240, BetMGM)

Joel Embiid has had some massive scoring outbursts this season, dropping 45 points on Miami and 38 points on Washington in two of his team’s last five games.

A season ago, Embiid put up 38 points in a 115-109 road win in Boston during the regular season and scored at least 30 points in each of the Sixers final three playoff games against the Celtics.

The value here independent of outcome is worth taking a flier on.

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50-1 Odds on Joel Embiid to Score a Point This Week (+5000, FOX Bet)

Note: PA only.

FOX Bet is running an exclusive promo for new users who sign up for their sportsbook in PA. If Sixers center Joel Embiid scores at least one point against the Boston Celtics in tonight’s game, new users who sign up with FOX Bet and take advantage of the promo will turn $1 into $50.

To get the offer, select the NBA menu and then navigate to “futures” and “bet boosts.” There, you’ll find a “new customer exclusive” to bet $1 for a $50 win on Joel Embiid to score a point. In order for this promo to count, this must be the first wager placed as a new user.

Ben Simmons Over 16.5 Combined Assists and Rebounds (+115, BetMGM)

You’ll need to navigate to the player props section of the game on BetMGM, but it’s worth the time. Sixers point guard Ben Simmons is averaging 11.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game in the month of January.

He’s dished out over 7.5 assists in four of his last five games and six of his last eight. He’s been a beast on the boards pulling down 16 rebounds against the Grizzlies and 10 boards against Miami over the Sixers’ past two games. He had a four-game streak of double digit rebound performances earlier this season as well.

Without having to shoulder as much of the scoring load as a season ago, expect Simmons to get involved in other aspects of the game.

 

Sixers vs. Celtics Prediction

Pick: The Sixers have had longer to rest following the postponement of their game against Oklahoma City. They’ll be mentally locked in to take down a squad that has given them trouble over the last few seasons. Take the Sixers to Win and Over 221.5 Points. Also, make sure to take advantage of the Joel Embiid market for new users to FOX Bet.

Note: FOX Bet has an awesome offer ahead of the NFL Divisional Playoffs. Click here to get a +500 odds on the Saints to score at least once on Sunday in PA. Get in on the action in NJ right here.