Celtics vs 76ers Betting Preview: Boston Looks to Answer in Pivotal Game 5
Celtics Listed as 2.5-Point Favorite and -145 on Moneyline

The third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers edged the second-seeded Boston Celtics 116-115 in overtime on Sunday to even their series at two games apiece. Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinal is scheduled for Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT) at TD Garden in Boston. Ahead of the pivotal game, read on for our Celtics vs 76ers betting preview.
Will Harden Deliver?
Philadelphia star James Harden rebounded in Game 4 with 42 points on 16-of-23 shooting to even the series. Harden hit six 3-pointers, including the game-winner with 19 seconds left in overtime. He added nine assists, eight rebounds and four steals.
Harden has been boom-or-bust this series. He dropped 45 points in Game 1 to lead Philadelphia to a victory without Joel Embiid, who’d landed on the NBA injury report with a sprained right knee. Then in Games 2 and 3, he combined to shoot 5-of-28, the worst two-game stretch (regular season or playoff) of his career.
The 76ers are deep, but they still will go as far as Harden and Embiid can take them. That was the case before the playoffs, and that remains true today. Embiid is averaging 23.2 points this postseason, a smidge above Harden’s 23. Guard Tyrese Maxey, a dynamic playmaker, had 23 points in Game 1 against Boston but has struggled since. He’s shot only 16-of-47 (34%) over the last three games, including 6-of-19 from 3-point range (31.5%).
If Harden and Embiid both go off, as they did on Sunday, then Philadelphia will be mighty tough to beat. If the Celtics want to secure a win against the 76ers, they’ll need to find a way to contain the explosive duo of Harden and Embiid in the upcoming Celtics vs 76ers matchup.
Will Brown Again Defer?
Following early foul trouble, Jaylen Brown scored 12 of Boston’s first 14 points and was 5-of-7 from the field in the first quarter of Game 4. He was an efficient 7-of-11 in the first half.
However, Brown unexplainably took just five shots in the second half, then none in overtime. He wasn’t involved in the Celtics‘ last plays of regulation — a missed 3-pointer by Marcus Smart — or overtime, when Smart was late on another 3-point attempt. Brown finished with 23 points, the last of which came on a 3 with 6:13 remaining in the fourth quarter. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 24 points, while Smart scored 21.
When asked postgame about his lack of shots down the stretch, Brown said he’s “gotta demand the ball a little bit more.” Brown’s averaging 15.3 shot attempts this series, but it’ll be interesting to see if he’s more aggressive in Game 5.
76ers Bolster Futures Odds
Boston’s Eastern Conference odds dropped slightly, from -325 to -190, following its Game 4 loss. Philadelphia, on the other hand, saw a significant boost, from +800 to +400.
At +160, Boston also remains the NBA title favorite. Denver and Los Angeles share the second-best odds at +450, ahead of Phoenix at +650. Philadelphia is still just +1000 to win the championship.
Handicapping Game 5
The latest Celtics vs 76ers betting odds have Boston listed as a 7-point favorite to win Game 5. The Celtics are also -295 on the moneyline, compared to +240 for Philadelphia. The over/under is set at 214 points, just half a point under the projected combined total for Game 4.
During the regular season, the Celtics were dominant at home. Their 32-9 record at TD Garden was the best in the conference, matching Milwaukee. However, they’re just 3-2 this postseason, including the Game 1 loss to Philadelphia.
Fortunately for Philadelphia, Embiid — the NBA points leader at 33.1 per game — doesn’t seem hindered by his right knee injury. The MVP center played 39 minutes in Game 3, then was on the floor for a playoff-high 46 minutes in Game 4. He had 34 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in the overtime victory — just his second in 12 tries against Boston in the playoffs — and is averaging 26.3 points and 9.7 boards for the series.
Notably, Boston has won 71.6% of the time as the ML favorite this NBA season. It’s 26-10 when listed as -295 or better. Philadelphia, meanwhile, is 13-13 as a ML underdog.
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