76ers vs Celtics Odds: Boston Looks to Rebound Following Game 1 Upset
All-Star Joel Embiid's Status Remains Uncertain Ahead of Game 2
The third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers are up 1-0 over the second-seeded Boston Celtics in their Eastern Conference second-round playoff series. Fueled by 45 points from shooting guard James Harden, the 76ers pulled off a 119-115 upset as a 7-point underdog in Boston. Ahead of Wednesday’s Game 2 at TD Garden (8 p.m., TNT), let’s take a closer look at the 76ers vs Celtics odds.
76ers vs Celtics 
Date & Time:
Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Streaming: TNT
Harden Goes Off
With MVP favorite Joel Embiid sidelined with a sprained right knee for the series opener, the onus was on Harden to lift the 76ers. He followed through.
Harden matched a playoff career high with 45 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 8.7 seconds remaining to help Philadelphia steal Game 1. He hit seven 3-pointers and added six assists and two steals over 39 minutes.
The 10-time All-Star previously scored 45 points for the Houston Rockets in the 2015 Western Conference Finals against Golden State.
For most of this season, Harden had been more of a secondary scorer to Embiid. He averaged 25.5 points in four meetings against Boston and 21.0 points overall. He had five 30-point games but did not hit 40. In the first-round sweep of the Brooklyn Nets, Harden was more of a facilitator, averaging 17.3 points, 8.8 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals.
Moving forward, Harden’s role may vary. Much of that will, of course, depend on Embiid’s availability. Regardless, even at the age of 33, Harden has proved he can still turn it on when needed. With the upcoming Celtics vs 76ers game, all eyes will be on how Harden contributes to the team’s success.
When Will Embiid Return?
To this point, Philadelphia has been vague about Embiid’s status. However, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the organization is optimistic about having the six-time All-Star back in the lineup for Game 2.
Will that change now that Philadelphia is up 1-0? Perhaps. The 76ers can afford to be more conservative and give him extra rest before the series shifts to the Wells Fargo Center.
Embiid’s presence is invaluable. Over 66 games, he averaged 33.1 points to win his second consecutive scoring title. He also averaged 10.2 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and matched a career high with 4.2 assists per game. It’s a big reason why Embiid, the MVP runner-up the last two seasons, is now favored to dethrone Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic for the NBA’s most prestigious honor.
The 76ers were 10.3 points better with Embiid on the floor this NBA season, according to NBA player stats, but they also managed to win 11 of the 16 games in which he didn’t play. Should he miss Game 2, Paul Reed would likely get another start. The third-year center from DePaul posted his second straight double-double Monday, recording 10 points and 13 rebounds in 37 minutes.
Boston Remains Title Favorite
Despite Philadelphia’s surprising victory, the oddsmakers still like Boston’s chances of advancing through the next two rounds of the Eastern Conference playoffs and into the Finals. The Celtics’ odds to win the conference dropped only slightly, from -175 to -120. Philadelphia is next in line at +240.
Additionally, the Celtics remain the betting favorite to win the NBA title at +190. The second-best odds (+240) currently belong to the Denver Nuggets. Both the Golden State Warriors, who beat Boston in six games in last year’s Finals, and Philadelphia are priced at +550.
Handicapping Game 2
The Celtics are comfortable 9.5-point favorites in Game 2, with moneyline odds of -460. Meanwhile, the Sixers are priced at +345. Expect those 76ers vs Celtics odds to shift when Embiid’s status is updated.
In four games against the Celtics this season, Embiid averaged 36.8 points and 11.8 boards. Asking Philadelphia to upset Boston again without the NBA points leader seems like a mighty tall order, especially on the road.
Meanwhile, the over/under is 218, three points higher than the projected total for Game 1. Considering the teams combined to score 234 points, it’s not a surprise to see this total rise.
The Boston Celtics seemingly had its opponent on the ropes in Game 1, only to squander a 12-point lead. Philadelphia, the league’s top 3-point shooting team, hit 17-of-38 (44.7%) from beyond the arc and forced 16 turnovers. Point guard Tyrese Maxey stepped up to assist Harden in Embiid’s absence, scoring 26 points to go with a game-high four steals.
With Embiid expected to be either limited or out, Boston simply cannot afford to fall behind 2-0 at home. The Celtics went 32-9 at TD Garden during the regular season.
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