Sixers vs. Celtics 2021 NBA Odds and Preview – December 20th, 2021

By Carlos Chacon • December 20, 2021

The Sixers head down to Boston to face the Celtics at the TD Garden on Monday night. Doc Rivers and his squad are still trying to recuperate from a bad slump. They are on the verge of extending their losing streak to four games, and facing a tough Celtics squad puts more pressure on the visitors.

Meanwhile, The Celtics build momentum following a victory against the Knicks. This is their second win of three consecutive home games, and they look to add more to the record as the team plays two more games at the TD Garden before hitting the road.

Get a full scoop of the Sixers vs. Celtics game only here on Nitrobetting. We share the latest NBA betting odds, timely betting trends, and our very own expert predictions down below.

Sixers vs. Celtics Game Information

?: https://t.co/AWnyzAS8cn pic.twitter.com/WUcdb8INvm
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 17, 2021

When: Monday, December 20, 2021, 7:30 PM ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV: NBA TV
Radio: WPEN 97.5 (Sixers) / 98.5 The Sports Hub (Celtics)
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
NBA Betting Odds: TBA

Why Bet on the Philadelphia 76ers?

The visitors lost by five points or more in their last three defeats. The Nets outmatched the Sixers in their previous outing and left the side with four losses in five games. Nevertheless, the Sixers get an extra day of rest after their most-recent matchup against the Pelicans was canceled. This should give the side more pace as they take on a gritty Celtics squad.

The Sixers average 105.6 points (24th) per game on 45.7% shooting (45.7%). Several points could help the side put pressure on their opponents. The team should capitalize on every free throw opportunity coming their way. They hit 81.4% of their shots (second) from the line. Furthermore, the visitors hold slightly better two and three-point shooting percentages.

Despite inconsistencies, the Sixers try to make some ground up on the defensive end. The team allows 106.7 points (13th) per game, which is slightly better than the Celtics’ current record. The 76ers also have good rim protection with 5.9 blocks per game.

The Sixers have three starters on the day-to-day list, including point guard Tyrese Maxey, forward Danny Green, and center Juel Embiid. More than that, the team’s bench players also have multiple injury issues featuring Andre Drummond, Furkan Korkmaz, Georges Niang, and Shake Milton.

Why Bet on the Boston Celtics?

The Celtics still have offensive and defensive issues to deal with, but starting to get better. They currently average 108.5 points (14th) and allow 107.3 opponent points (15th) per game.

On offense, the Celtics still fall behind in shooting and effective field goal percentage at 44.4% (22nd) and 51.5% (22nd), respectively. They can rival the Sixers’ free-throw shooting percentage and hit 80.9% of their attempts from the line.

What they lack on offense, they make up for in defense. This is where the Celtics can cover ground. The team holds opponents to 43.3 points on the paint (seventh). Additionally, they also limit teams to 44.2% shooting, which should fare well against a better shooting team on Monday night.

Star player Jayson Tatum is under observation after suffering a sprain in his recent appearance. He is currently day-to-day until he gets the green light from the team doctors. Furthermore, Al Horford is expected to be out of the starting lineup. This adds Aaron Nesmith to the starting lineup mix while head coach Ime Udoka makes adjustments to the positions.

Sixers vs. Celtics Betting Trends

The Sixers are 2-2 in the last four regular-season road games against the Celtics (2-2 ATS).
The Sixers are 5-5 in the last ten regular-season road games (5-5 ATS).
The totals went in six of the Sixers’ last ten regular-season road games against the Celtics.
The Celtics are 4-2 in the last six regular-season home games against the Sixers (3-3 ATS).
The Celtics are 8-2 in the last ten regular-season games at the TD Garden (6-4 ATS).
The totals went over in two of the Celtics’ last five regular-season home games against the Sixers.

Sixers vs. Celtics Expert Betting Prediction

This is a tough game to call. Both teams are going through a fair share of starter injuries that hold them back from playing their best. This all boils down to which team has the deeper and more consistent bench team. Home court advantage gives Celtics the slight upper hand, but the Sixers can still threaten to cover the spread and snatch this one from the hosts. It will be interesting to see how both coaches play this one out. Both sides share the same overall record right now and the winners get a shot at closing down on the No. 6 Eastern Conference spot.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at NitroBetting news. Stay tuned for more NBA game previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest Basketball betting odds on the sportsbook.

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