The Boston Celtics look to pad their slim lead over the Bucks in the conference on Saturday, February 25 when the team takes on the next best team in the standings after Milwaukee, the 76ers, on the road.
Boston started off the post-All-Star break slate with a 142-138 overtime win over the Pacers in Indiana. Myles Turner went for a 40-point double-double, and things will be even tougher for the C’s frontcourt tonight against Philadelphia and its MVP candidate center Joel Embiid.
The 76ers also won their first game post-All-Star break, defeating the Grizzlies at home. Embiid had 27 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists, while James Harden went for a game-high 31 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds.
Philadelphia 76ers: 8th (ORtg), 7th (DRtg), 26th (Pace), 4th (NRtg)
Boston Celtics: 3rd (ORtg), 4th (DRtg), 17th (Pace), 1st (NRtg)
Boston Celtics Projected Starting Lineup
PG – Marcus Smart, SG – Jaylen Brown, SF – Jayson Tatum, PF – Al Horford, C – Robert Williams III
Philadelphia 76ers Projected Starting Lineup
PG – James Harden, SG – De’Anthony Melton, SF – Tobias Harris, PF – P.J. Tucker, C – Joel Embiid
Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers Injury Report
76ers C Dewayne Dedmon (Left hip) – Game-time Decision
Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers Prediction
Vegas sees this a game that will be very close, and it’s not hard to picture that considering both matchups thus far this season have been decided by single-digits. While the first two games were both Celtics victories, this one may be a bit of a tricky one to corral.
Still, the C’s second unit is vastly superior to Philadelphia’s, and foul trouble for any of the first five puts the 76ers at the mercy of the other starters. Boston will get another prime time victory under the lights, but it’ll be close as Vegas expects.
Celtics 116 76ers 111