BOSTON @ PHILADELPHIA (BOS -7.5, 224.5)
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
CELTICS @ 76ERS 2/20/25
The Boston Celtics set off to face their Atlantic Division rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers, tonight in Philadelphia. The rivalry between these two teams runs long and deep, with Celtics own the series with a record of 271-198 in the regular season.
It’s the first game for both teams after the All-Star weekend. Before the break, Boston Celtics celebrated a victory over San Antonio, their third consecutive win. Philadelphia endured a narrow loss to Brooklyn.
Despite missing two starters, Boston won a commanding victory against San Antonio, putting on an offensive masterclass and as well as an outstanding defensive performance. Their leading scorer, Jayson Tatum, was the standout performer with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists. As a team, the Celtics have been impressive with an average of 117.2 points per game and a defensive record allowing only 108.1 points per game this season, proving their worth as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and the NBA.
On the other hand, Philadelphia has had a less than optimal season, losing five consecutive games before their break. Their performance so far placed them third in the Atlantic Division, trailing the Celtics by a significant margin. A key player to watch is Tyrese Maxey, who has been contributing an impressive 27.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game.
Unfortunately, injuries have plagued the 76ers with Joel Embiid, Maxey, and Eric Gordon all missing the last game against the Nets due to various injuries. Justin Edwards also incurred an injury during Tuesday’s practice, putting his participation in doubt for the upcoming game.
Boston, on the other hand, has won three straight and 7 of its last 8 games. The Celtics have covered 4 of their last 5 and they have won six straight on the road. In the series against the Sixers, Boston has won 4 of the last 5, including a 118-110 win at Philadelphia on February 2.
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COACH RICK FREE PICK:
TYRESE MAXEY OVER 30.5 PTS+ASTS
Maxey is Philadelphia’s leading scorer (27.6 ppg) and he also leads the Sixers in assists with 6.1 per game. He’s gone Over this number in 18 of his last 19 games. Over those 19 games, Maxey has averaged 38 PTS+ASTS. In his last three games before the break, Maxey totaled 40, 45, and 47 PTS+ASTS. In 15 career games against the Celtics, Maxey has averaged 15.1 points and 3.2 assists. But, in the last three against Boston, including two games this season, he scored over 30 points in each game and averaged nearly 6 assists per game.