The Philadelphia 76ers host the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center on February 20. The Celtics enter the game with a 39-16 record, sitting second in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers are struggling at 20-34 and are currently in 11th place. Boston has been in strong form, winning seven of its last eight games, while Philadelphia has lost seven of its last eight.
These teams have already met twice this season. The most recent matchup saw Boston come from behind to win 118-110 on February 2 after trailing by 26 points. Philadelphia won the first meeting on Christmas Day with a close 118-114 victory. Boston is an 8-point favorite in this game, with the total set at 224.5. The Celtics will look to extend their road dominance, while the 76ers need a win to get back on track.
Philadelphia Preview – Can They Get Back on Track?
The 76ers enter this game struggling, having lost five straight before the All-Star break. Their most recent game was a 100-96 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, where Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes both scored 30 points. Paul George had a rough night, scoring just two points on 1-for-7 shooting. Without consistent scoring, Philadelphia has found it difficult to keep up with stronger teams.
Philadelphia is dealing with multiple injuries, but there is some hope that Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey could return. Embiid has only played in 17 games this season, but he was a full participant in practice this week. The 76ers rank 14th in scoring defense, allowing 112.9 points per game. They will need a strong defensive performance to slow down Boston’s top scorers.
The 76ers are just 10-17 at home this season and have struggled against the spread, covering in only 22 of 61 games. They will need strong performances from George, Oubre, and Maxey to stay competitive. Philadelphia has covered the spread in four of the last ten meetings with Boston but will need a much-improved effort to keep this one close.
Boston Preview – Will the Celtics Keep Rolling?
The Celtics have been one of the best teams in the NBA this season, and they come into this matchup with plenty of momentum. Boston has won seven of its last eight games, including a 116-103 win over San Antonio in its last outing. Jayson Tatum has been leading the way, averaging 27.0 points per game, while Jaylen Brown adds 22.9 points per contest. Kristaps Porzingis has been a key contributor as well, scoring 29 points in his last game.
Boston leads the NBA in three-pointers made per game, averaging 17.7. They also take the most threes in the league at 48.3 per game, making them a tough team to defend. The Celtics rank sixth in the NBA in scoring, averaging 117.2 points per game. They are also one of the best teams in limiting turnovers, ranking first in the league with just 11.8 per game.
The Celtics have been dominant on the road this season, holding a 22-6 record away from home. They have won six of their last ten meetings against Philadelphia and will look to continue that success. Boston has been an inconsistent team against the spread, sitting at 23-31-1 ATS this season, but they have been able to cover in big games against weaker opponents.
Betting Prediction
Boston enters this game as an 8-point favorite, and given the recent form of both teams, they should be able to cover. Philadelphia has struggled defensively, ranking near the bottom of the league in several key categories. If Embiid plays, the 76ers could make this a more competitive game, but even then, Boston’s depth gives them a strong edge.
The total for this game is set at 224.5. Boston has hit the under in 41 of its last 61 games, while Philadelphia has hit the over in 41 of its last 71. The pace of this game will likely favor Boston, who has the firepower to pull away late. Expect the Celtics to win and cover the spread.
Pick: Boston Celtics -8 over Philadelphia 76ers
