76ers vs. Celtics Game 5 Predictions, Odds, Props: Boston Heavily Favored Coming Off OT Loss

Thanks to James Harden, Philadelphia is tied with Boston at 2-2 as the NBA Playoffs series shifts back to TD Garden on Tuesday night. We break down 76ers vs. Celtics predictions, odds, and props for Game 5.

Boston controlled Games 2 and 3 and nearly took a 3-1 lead that would have all but ended the series on Sunday night. Instead, Harden forced overtime in Game 4 with a tough runner in the lane, then buried the game-winning corner ‘3’ in OT.

Now, it’s a three-game series, with the underdog Sixers gaining confidence as NBA MVP Joel Embiid’s minutes – and production – steadily increase. Oddsmakers still don’t think the 2-2 series is up for grabs, though, as the Celtics are the clear favorites for both Game 5 and on the series price.

Let’s analyze whether Harden and Embiid can lead Philadelphia to another road upset after they stole Game 1 in Boston.

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76ers vs. Celtics Game 5 Odds: Point Spread, Total, Moneyline

Despite Philadelphia’s wins in Games 1 and 4, Doc Rivers’ team is once again getting 7.5 points at most sportsbooks in Tuesday’s pivotal Game 5, according to odds boards the morning of the game. Embiid looks less than 100% healthy, but he’s scored at least 30 points and grabbed 13 boards in his team’s last two games. Still, the betting market remains bullish on Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the Celtics.

Here are current spreads, totals, and moneylines from the best sports betting apps on the market.

76ers vs. Celtics Series Price

No matter how heavily a team was favored entering a series, fans might expect that a split through four games would earn the underdog some respect.

That’s not the case for this series, though: Boston is between -310 (FanDuel) and -330 (DraftKings). The 76ers are priced between +250 on FanDuel and +265 on DraftKings.

Here are updated series prices ahead of 76ers vs. Celtics Game 5.

Can James Harden Stay Hot For Philadelphia?

As Harden goes, so go the 76ers. No player in the NBA Playoffs (besides maybe Anthony Davis) has gone from one extreme to the other quite like Harden against Boston. He now has two games with 40-plus points (on better than 50% shooting from the floor) and two (Games 2 and 3) in which he scored just 28 combined on 5-of-28 shooting.

The problem for Boston is that the 2018 NBA MVP is also one of the best passers in the league. His nine assists in Game 4 served as a reminder – as if anyone needed one after he led the league in that category in the regular season – that double teams are not a great response, even when he’s red-hot.

Regardless of how well Harden plays, though, Philadelphia will need big games from Embiid and/or Tyrese Maxey. The latter has been held in check since he scored 26 in Game 1. Maxey, who shot over 43% from 3 during the regular season, is just 8-for-28 (28.6%) from downtown against Boston in the series.

Will Boston’s Jayson Tatum Change His Approach?

Tatum has been solid, with the exception of Game 2, throughout this series. To put Philadelphia away, though, Boston might need the version of Tatum who torched the Bucks in last year’s playoffs. With the Celtics facing elimination in the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Milwaukee, Tatum erupted for 46 in Game 6, his third straight game in that series with 30 or more.

Boston lost Game 1 of this series despite a 39-point performance by Tatum, but it still feels like it is most dangerous when the offense runs through an aggressive Tatum.

One other player who could elevate Boston’s offense is Al Horford, who is shooting 9-for-26 from 3 for the series. That sounds solid, but it includes his 5-for-7 performance in Game 3. Horford was inaccurate from long range in Games 1, 2, and 4 (4-for-19).

When Horford is draining 3-pointers, Boston’s offense is nearly unstoppable, as the opposing big matched up on Horford is forced to leave the paint. With no post player at the rim, Tatum and Brown can get to the basket, and/or the free-throw line, at will. But when Horford’s shot is not falling, and his defender can sag off of him, it compromises Boston’s spacing.

76ers vs. Celtics Betting Trends

76ers

• The 76ers are 52-36-2 against the spread (ATS) this season, (playoffs: 5-2-1)
• The 76ers are 36-23-2 ATS as the favorite, 16-13 ATS as the underdog
• The 76ers are 27-17-1 ATS at home, 25-19-1 ATS on the road
• The 76ers are 4-1 ATS with at least four days off
• The 76ers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games
• The total has gone 48-40-2 on the Over in 76ers games

Celtics

• The Celtics are 52-40 against the spread (ATS) this season (playoffs: 6-4)
• The Celtics are 44-39 ATS as the favorite, 8-1 ATS as the underdog
• The Celtics are 27-19 ATS at home, 25-21 ATS on the road
• The Celtics are 2-1 ATS with at least four days off
• The Celtics are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games
• The total has gone 49-41-2 on the Over in Celtics games

76ers vs. Celtics Series Props

Whether you want to bet on a single game, an entire series, or back a team in the futures market to raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy, sportsbooks offer plenty of wagering options. Philadelphia and Boston fans can wager on props for Game 5 and/or the series. Here are a few notable 76ers-Celtics prop bets, along with the best price from the top US sports betting apps.

Correct Series Score

• Celtics win series, 4-2: +140 (Caesars)
• Celtics win series, 4-3: +165 (DraftKings, FanDuel)
• 76ers win series, 4-3: +550 (DraftKings, Caesars)
• 76ers win series, 4-2: +600 (DraftKings, Caesars, FanDuel)

Series Exact Games

• 6 games: -120 (DraftKings)
• 7 games: +100 (DraftKings)

76ers vs. Celtics Series & Game 5 Prediction

Boston’s biggest issue this series (besides falling victim to some incredible shot-making by Harden) has been its inability to keep its foot on the gas.

Playing on their home court on Tuesday, and coming off a loss, the Celtics seem less likely to suffer from the lapses that plagued them against Miami in last year’s conference finals and against Atlanta earlier this postseason. It will also help the Celtics that their only rotation players over 30 are Malcolm Brogdon and Al Horford.

For Philadelphia, it’s fair to wonder what version of Harden, 33, we’ll see two days after he played over 47 minutes on Sunday. In similar circumstances, he laid an egg in Game 2, two nights after putting his team on his shoulders in Game 1. His 2-for-14 shooting (0-for-6 from downtown) was a big reason Philly lost Game 2 by 34 points.

Fatigue could also be an issue for the hobbled Embiid, who logged 46-plus minutes in Game 4.

It all adds up to Boston rewarding oddsmakers’ faith.

Game 5 Pick: Boston -7 (-114 via FanDuel)

Series Pick: Celtics 4-3 (+165 via DraftKings, FanDuel)

How to Watch 76ers vs. Celtics Game 5

• Game Day: Tuesday, May 9, 2023
• Game Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: TD Garden | Boston
• Channel: TNT