76ers vs. Celtics 2023 NBA Playoffs Odds and Game 2 Preview – May 3rd

By Jeff Stinger • May 3, 2023

The Sixers surprised Game 1’s hosts in their opener versus the Celtics. James Harden stepped up and delivered a 45-point performance even though the visitors did not have season 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid on the floor. Boston failed to contain their opponent’s late run and fell in the hands of the 76ers, 119-115. Wednesday’s clash could write a totally different story with Philly big man Embiid potentially coming back for Game 2. Meanwhile, the hosts have to put an updated system in place to make sure they don’t give another game up before heading down to Wells Fargo Center.

Nitrobetting is ready to dish out key assists and lob passes with betting tips and news coverage throughout the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Let’s break down the upcoming playoff showdown between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics.

Celtics vs. 76ers Game 2 2023 NBA Playoffs Second-Round Information

When: Wednesday, May 3, 2023, 8:00 PM ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
TV: TNT
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic (76ers) // 98.5 The Sports Hub (Celtics)
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
NBA Betting Odds: 76ers (+10) / Celtics (-10)

Why Bet on the Philadelphia 76ers?

The Sixers are overflowing with confidence after drawing first blood versus the Celtics in a shocking four-point road victory. We witnessed vintage James Harden as he paved the way with 45 points and six assists on 17 of 30 from the field. Tyrese Maxey provided much-needed support and added 26 points on the board with four crucial steals while Tobias Harris chipped in with 18 points on 50% shooting.

As a team, Philly shot 50% from the field and 17 of 38 from deep. They got off to a poor start but eventually reeled themselves in and broke the 12-point deficit in the final quarter. They closed the final minute and 38 seconds on a 12-4 run to snatch the win despite not having star big man Joel Embiid. The 2022-23 NBA MVP winner awaits the go signal for Game 2 and remains doubtful for Wednesday’s clash.

Philadelphia was perfect from the line in Game 1. They outpaced the Celtics from deep and limited their turnovers to eight across four quarters. Another major factor in their win was the impressive ten steals. The visitors capitalized on said opportunities to disrupt Boston’s pace. That said, the 76ers remain a solid defensive team that limits teams to 110.1 points per game on 47.3% opponent shooting. They are also the sixth-best shooting team in the league right now at 48.6%.

Why Bet on the Boston Celtics?

Marcus Smart could miss this game after picking up a chest injury. He had a 12-point performance in the opening game but failed to make any significant defensive stops in the fourth. This led to a Sixers comeback and eventual Game 1 victory. Danilo Gallinari is also out until at least May 5. Nevertheless, the rest of the starting five are ready to rock and roll. Jayson Tatum opened the Conference Semis with a 39-point and 11-rebound game. Jaylen Brown and Al Horford combined for 34 points. Meanwhile, Malcolm Brogdon scored 20 points off the bench.

The Celtics did significantly better than Philly from the field despite losing the ball game. They penned a 58.7% field goal percentage and were 10 of 26 from deep. Boston nearly nailed all of their shots from the line, shooting 17 of 18. The hosts also dominated the boards and collected ten more rebounds than their opponents.

But, what killed the Celtics was their lack of ball protection. The Eastern Conference’s second seed documented 16 turnovers in four quarters, which the 76ers converted to 13 points. Their opponent’s late surge proved crucial as the hosts started to miss shots. It was a tight game through and through, but the Celts need to do better at closing games if they want to avoid going down 2-0.

76ers vs. Celtics Betting Trends

The 76ers won three of its last five road playoff games (2-3 ATS).
The 76ers lost three games in the last five meetings with the Celtics (3-2 ATS).
The totals went under in three of the Sixers’ last four road postseason games.
The Celtics dropped three of its last five home playoff contests (2-3 ATS).
The Celtics lost two of the last four home games versus Philadelphia (2-2 ATS).
The totals went over in two of Boston’s last three postseason games at home.

76ers vs. Celtics Game 2 Expert Betting Predictions

We now know that a shorthanded Sixers can still pull off the victory. Joel Embiid is listed as doubtful with the knee sprain. Nevertheless, players like James Harden can take scoring responsibility in the meantime. As for the Celtics, they keep a close eye on Marcus Smart who is questionable after sustaining a chest contusion. Philadelphia did a great job of getting the one-up, but pulling off the back-to-back raises more questions. Covering a spread stays a possibility for Doc Rivers and his squad. Furthermore, it’s difficult to imagine the Celtics dropping a second consecutive home game against a team without Embiid, so the advantage goes to the hosts.

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2022-23 NBA season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest basketball betting odds on our online BTC sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.