Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 10/16/2018

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Philadelphia 76ers travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, October 16, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 6 point favorites.

The 76ers come into this game after finishing last season with an overall record of 52-30. They were 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They had a point differential of 4.5 as they averaged 109.8 points per game while giving up 105.3 per contest. The Celtics had an overall record of 55-27 last season. They were 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They averaged 104.0 points per game and surrendered 100.4, good for a point differential of 3.6.

Valuable Philadelphia 76ers Betting Trends

The Philadelphia 76ers were 53-39-0 against the spread last season

The Philadelphia 76ers were 46-45-0 against the over/under last year

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics were 60-37-4 against the spread last season

The Boston Celtics were 52-48-0 against the over/under last year

Key Philadelphia 76ers Injuries

10/11/18 F Dario Saric Back is probable Tuesday vs Boston

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Ben Simmons comes into this contest after averaging 15.8 points per game while playing 33.7 minutes per night last season. He pulled down 8.1 rebounds per game and dished out 8.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage was 55% while his free throw percentage finished at 56%. Joel Embiid averaged 22.9 points per game in 30.3 minutes per contest last season. He averaged 3.2 assists per contest and 11.0 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage was 48% for the year while his free throw percentage was 77%.

Player Spotlight

Kyrie Irving averaged 24.4 points per game while playing 32.2 minutes per contest last year. He grabbed 3.8 rebounds per game and had 5.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage was 49% and his free throw percentage was at 89%. Jayson Tatum averaged 13.9 points per game last season and he saw the court an average of 30.5 minutes per contest. He also averaged 5.0 rebounds per contest and 1.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage was 48% and his free throw percentage was 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

Philadelphia averaged 109.8 points per contest last season, which ranked them 7th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin was 4.5 and their shooting percentage was 47% as a team, which had them ranked 7th. Behind the arc they shot 37% which was good for 8th in the league. They averaged 47.4 rebounds per game and 27.1 assists per game, which ranked them 1st and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they ranked 1st with 16.5 per game. The 76ers allowed 105.3 points per game to their opponents which ranked them 11th in the league. They also allowed a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 1st and 2nd in those defensive categories. Opponents averaged 42.2 rebounds a game which ranked 6th and they gave up 21.7 assists per contest, which put them in 5th place in the league. They forced 14.3 turnovers per game which ranked them 16th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston was 20th in the league with 104.0 points per game last year. They were 21st in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin was 3.6. They shot 38% from 3-point range, which was good for 2nd in the NBA. They were 8th in the league in rebounding with 44.5 boards per game, and 20th in assists per contest with 22.5. The Celtics were 16th in turnovers per game with 14.0. The Celtics surrendered 100.4 points per contest, which ranked them 3rd in the NBA. Their defense allowed a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 1st in those defensive statistics. They ranked 4th with 21.3 assists allowed per contest and 22nd with 43.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics were 12th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per game last season.

Advanced Statistics

The 76ers were 11th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.5, and their defensive rating of 105 was ranked 4th last season. In terms of pace they were 4th in the league with 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% was 7th. As a team they were 8th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shot 3 pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 13th in the league. Philadelphia was 1st in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season was 49%, which was 30th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Boston was 16th in the league in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year was 50%, which was 29th in the NBA. The Celtics were 18th in the league in defensive rating with 103.9, and their offensive rating of 107.6 was ranked 1st. They were 22nd in the NBA in pace with 96 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% was 15th. As a unit they were 14th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Boston -6

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