The Boston Celtics are home favorites in NBA betting online odds, as they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday on TNT. The Celtics come into the game with the best record in the Eastern Conference at 34-11, while the 76ers are just outside of the top 8 in the conference, with a record of 20-20. These teams met a week ago in Philadelphia and the Celtics won by a score of 114-103. Let’s look at Thursday’s game and NBA picks.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics
Date and Time: Thursday, January 18, 2018, 7 p.m. ET
Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
NBA Betting Online Odds at SBG: Boston -6, O/U 212.5
76ers vs. Celtics TV Coverage: TNT
The 76ers have been hanging around the top 8 in the Eastern Conference, but they could have some trouble in the next couple of weeks, as J.J. Redick is out. Redick suffered a leg injury in Monday’s win over Toronto and is expected to miss 10-14 days. Redick is second on the team in scoring at 17.3 points per game. Philadelphia will probably move Jerryd Bayless into Redick’s spot and in the 10 games Bayless has started this season, the 76ers have gone 3-7. The problem isn’t necessarily Bayless, but the bench, as with Bayless in the starting lineup, the bench is substantially weakened.
Philadelphia is 11-8-1 ATS on the road, with 12 games going over the NBA betting online number and 8 going under. They are scoring just over 108 points per game and giving up just over 108 per contest.
The Celtics have routinely been starting slow and rallying in the second half to win games. They started slow again on Tuesday against New Orleans, but they couldn’t rally for the win. Tuesday’s game was the 18th time this season the Celtics have trailed by double-digits. Boston came back to take the lead against New Orleans on Tuesday in the fourth quarter but they couldn’t pull out the win, losing 116-113 in overtime. “We can’t come back every game,” Celtics guard Kyrie Irving said. “It’s as simple as that.”
Boston is 13-9-2 ATS at home, with 13 games going over and 11 going under. They are scoring just over 103 points per game and giving up 98 per contest.
Key Stat
The 76ers are 2-6 against the sportsbook online odds in their last 8 vs. the Atlantic. The 76ers are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games. The Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.
The Over is 4-1 in the 76ers last 5 overall. The Under is 8-3 in the Celtics last 11 vs. the Atlantic. The Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Boston.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics NBA Games Betting Odds Picks
I am a little surprised the number on this is not higher, as the Celtics handled the 76ers last week in Philadelphia and now the 76ers are without Redick. I expect the Celtics to get off to a better start on Thursday and I also think the 76ers will really miss Redick, so I will lay the points in NBA betting online and take the Celtics in this contest.
NBA Betting Online Pick: Boston -6
NBA Betting Online Score Prediction: Celtics 115, 76ers 100