Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics Preview
Where: TD Garden — Boston, Massachusetts
When: Wednesday, February 15, 2017, 7:30 PM ET
Line: Philadelphia 76ers (+9.5) vs. Boston Celtics (-9.5); total: 217.0 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: CSNE / CSP
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Betting on the Philadelphia 76ers (21-34)
Point Spread: +9.5
Philly made Nicolas Batum eat his words on Monday night, coming out with the 105-99 road win against Charlotte.
Batum guaranteed a Hornets win prior to the game, which clearly riled up the 76ers who were led by Dario Saric’s double-double—18 points and 11 boards. The Croatian rook has been playing solid basketball in the last five games, averaging 19.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in that stretch.
Saric’s improved play is a key reason why his team enters tonight’s game in Boston having won its previous three outings (3-0 ATS). Philadelphia’s lost the first two encounters with the C’s this season, but both were decided by only five points combined.
Another nail-biter could be in the making as long as the Sixers continue playing their tempo and with tremendous confidence. Akin to what starting point guard T.J. McConnell, who is dishing out 8.0 assists per game in their current run, said after the Charlotte game, you can’t underestimate this scrappy, young Philly team.
Betting on the Boston Celtics (36-19)
Point Spread: -9.5
Boston also brings into this a three-game winning streak (3-0 ATS), and enters as winners of nine out of 10 games.
The C’s can thank Isaiah Thomas for that. He continues to pile up the points on a nightly basis, finishing with at least 28 or more points in every game this month. That includes Monday’s 111-98 win in Dallas, during which the 28-year-old point guard went 9-of-19 from the field for a game-high 29 points and eight assists, also the most in the game.
For sure, Thomas should be able to stay hot against the Sixers, whom he’s already torched in the last two meetings this season. During those encounters, he’s led the C’s to close victories by averaging 30.5 points and nailing 57.1 percent of his three-point attempts.
Marcus Smart, Kelly Olynyk and Gerald Green are bound to provide more offense, as all three have scored in double digits in the last three games.
Writer’s Prediction
Boston (-9.5) wins and barely covers.
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