Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 4/30/2018

Thursday, May 3, 2018

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Philadelphia 76ers head to TD Garden to take on the Boston Celtics on Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Celtics lead the series 1-0. The opening line for this game has Philadelphia as 3.5 point favorites.

The 76ers had a regular season record of 52-30. They were 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They currently 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 during the regular season. They finished the campaign 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 are 52-36-0 against the spread

The Philadelphia 76ers are 44-43-0 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 54-32-4 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 48-41-0 against the over/under

Key Philadelphia 76ers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

10/17/17 SF Gordon Hayward Ankle is out indefinitely
05/01/18 F Jaylen Brown Hamstring is upgraded to probable Thursday vs Philadelphia
05/01/18 G Marcus Smart Thumb is probable Thursday vs Philadelphia
04/05/18 G Kyrie Irving Knee is out for season
03/12/18 F Daniel Theis Knee is out for season

Player Spotlight

Ben Simmons comes into this game averaging 15.8 points per contest while playing 33.7 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 8.1 rebounds per contest and distributes 8.2 assists per game. His FG percentage is 55% while his free throw percentage is 56%. Joel Embiid averages 22.9 points per contest in 30.3 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.2 assists per game and 11 rebounds per contest for Philadelphia. His field goal percentage is 48% for the season while his free throw percentage is 77%.

Player Spotlight

Jayson Tatum has scored 13.9 points per contest while playing 30.5 minutes per game this season for the Celtics. He hauls in 5 rebounds per contest and has 1.6 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Al Horford averages 12.9 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 31.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 7.4 rebounds per game and 4.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 78%.

Useful Team Statistics

Philadelphia averages 109.8 points per contest this year, which is 7th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 4.5 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 7th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 10th in the NBA. They average 47.4 boards per contest and 27.1 assists per game, which ranks them 1st and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 1st with 16.5 per game. The 76ers allow 105.3 points per contest which is 11th in the NBA. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 1st and 2nd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42.2 rebounds a game which ranks 6th, and they allow 21.7 assists per game which puts them in 6th place in the league. They force 14.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 17th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 20th in the NBA with 104 points per contest this season. They are 21st in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 3.59. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 2nd in the league. They are 7th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.5 boards per contest and 20th in assists per game with 22.5. The Celtics are 16th in turnovers per contest with 14. The Celtics give up 100.4 points per game, which ranks them 3rd in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 2nd and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 4th with 21.3 dimes allowed per game and 21st with 43.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Celtics are 10th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The 76ers are 12th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.5, and their defensive rating of 105 is ranked 27th. In terms of pace they are 4th in the league with 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 7th. As a team they are 8th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 13th in the league. Philadelphia is 1st in turnovers, as they turn 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 currently is 49%, which is 30th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 16th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 29th in the NBA. The Celtics are 18th in the league in defensive rating with 103.9, and their offensive rating of 107.6 is ranked 29th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 96 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 15th. As a unit they are 14th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 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 +3.5

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