Celtics vs 76ers Game 7: Boston Favored Comfortably at Home
Boston Listed as 7.5-Point Fav, -300 on Moneyline
Second-seeded Boston and third-seeded Philadelphia are headed to a decisive Game 7 following the Celtics’ 95-86 victory on Thursday at Wells Fargo Center. The Celtics seized control for good in the fourth quarter, outscoring the 76ers 14-3 over the final 4:14 to remain alive in their second-round series.
After squandering a brilliant opportunity to close out the defending Eastern Conference champions, Philadelphia now has to get the job done on the road according to the NBA schedule. The 76ers opened as a 7.5-point underdog.
Read on for our betting preview ahead of Sunday’s Celtics vs 76ers Game 7.
Celtics vs 76ers 
Date & Time:
Location: TD Garden; Boston, Mass.
Streaming: TBD
Tatum Rising to the Occasion
Celtics star Jayson Tatum had yet another poor start, missing 14 of his first 15 shots from the floor in Game 6. That included an 0-for-5 mark in the first quarter, giving him 19 consecutive shots missed in the opening quarter this series (the longest streak by any NBA postseason player over the last 25 years).
Fortunately for Boston, Tatum caught fire when it mattered most. He shot 4-of-8 (4-of-5 from 3) and scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, 13 more than the previous three quarters combined. Tatum also outscored Philadelphia by himself during that stretch, 16-13.
In the Celtics vs 76ers series, Tatum is averaging 25.3 points on 41.7% shooting, along with 10.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals. It’s even more impressive when you consider that he may need surgery on his left wrist in the offseason.
Homeward Bound
The Boston Celtics seemingly have a big edge with Game 7 in their own building. They went 32-9 (24-17 against the spread) at TD Garden during the regular season, tying Milwaukee for the best home record in the Eastern Conference.
However, Boston has sputtered lately, winning only one of its last four games at home. That includes Games 1 and 5 against Philadelphia. Strangely, the road team has won four of the six games this series, making Celtics vs Sixers Game 7 all the more intriguing.
Boston Back Atop the Board
After evening the series 3-3, Boston jumped back ahead of Philadelphia as the favorite to win the Eastern Conference. The Celtics’ odds shot up from +220 to -160, while the 76ers’ dropped from -105 to +320.
Boston also reclaimed its place as the NBA’s overall betting favorite, leapfrogging multiple teams, including Philadelphia, as a +160 pick to win the Finals. Denver, the Western Conference’s top seed, was next in line at +240, followed by Los Angeles at +450, Philadelphia at +800 and Golden State at +1000.
Handicapping Game 7
The Celtics vs 76ers Game 7 odds opened with Boston as a 7.5-point favorite. The Celtics are also -300 on the moneyline, compared to +250 for Philadelphia. The over/under is set at 203, a whopping 22 points more than the combined total from Game 6.
Joel Embiid, the NBA points leader at 33.1 per game,has been dominant since returning in Game 2 from a sprained right knee. However, in Game 6, with an opportunity to close out the series, it was Tatum who took over in crunch time. Marcus Smart contributed 22 points and Jaylen Brown 17, as Boston displayed its depth.
While Tyrese Maxey matched Embiid with a game-high 26 points, James Harden scored only 13 points on 4-of-16 shooting, including 0-for-6 from 3. The 76ers will need more from Harden (the hero of Games 1 and 4) to have a shot at knocking off Boston at home.
The Celtics find themselves in the same position they were in during last year’s conference semifinals. Trailing Milwaukee 3-2, they won Game 6 on the road, then took Game 7 at home. Is a repeat in store?
For what it’s worth, Philadelphia has been strong on the road. Between the regular season and playoffs, the 76ers are 29-17 away from Wells Fargo Center.
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