The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers will meet in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night. Boston controlled the opener in dominant fashion, before Philadelphia answered with a decisive 111-97 win in Game 2 behind elite perimeter shooting. Now the series heads to Philadelphia for Game 3, where adjustments, health questions, and shooting regression will shape the outcome. Here, I break down Celtics vs 76ers Game 3 and bring you my best bet for the game.
Celtics vs 76ers Game 3 Pick
Pick: 76ers +7.5
Confidence: 4 out of 5
Game Snapshot
Matchup: Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers
Date & Time: Friday, April 23, 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Broadcast: Prime Video
Key Storylines
This series is tied 1-1 after Philadelphia’s Game 2 win.
Boston shot just 26% from three in Game 2 after dominating Game 1.
Philadelphia hit 19 threes at a 49% clip in the win in Game 2.
Joel Embiid is listed as questionable while recovering from surgery, and a return for the Philly big man would change this game dramatically.
Consistency will determine the outcome of this game, after both teams had one very good performance and one very bad performance in the first two games in Boston.
Key Players
Philadelphia 76ers
Tyrese Maxey: Averaging 28.3 points and 6.6 assists per game, Maxey drives the offense and thrives in high-usage playoff situations. He posted 29 points and 9 assists in Game 2 and continues to exploit defensive switches.
VJ Edgecombe: The rookie delivered 30 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2, showcasing scoring ability and energy on the glass. His perimeter shooting was a major factor in the upset.
Paul George: Added 19 points in Game 2 and provides veteran scoring and spacing. His consistency helps stabilize the offense without Embiid.
Boston Celtics
Jaylen Brown: Averaging 28.7 points per game, Brown led all scorers with 36 in Game 2. He remains Boston’s most reliable downhill scorer.
Jayson Tatum: Contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds in Game 2. His all-around production remains critical, especially if outside shooting struggles continue.
Derrick White: Averaging 5.4 assists per game, White’s playmaking and perimeter defense are key to controlling tempo and limiting Maxey.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
These teams are 3-3 against each other so far this season.
Boston is 50-34 against the spread this season, the best mark in the NBA between the regular season and playoffs.
Philadelphia enters this matchup at 45-40 against the spread for the year.
Celtics vs 76ers Game 3 Model Projection
Score Projection: Boston Celtics 115 - Philadelphia 76ers 111
Win Probability: Boston Celtics 64%, Philadelphia 76ers 36%
The biggest variable going into this game remains the status of Embiid. Even if he suits up, conditioning and minutes would likely be limited, making it difficult for him to shift the game completely. Without him at full strength, Philadelphia relies heavily on perimeter shot-making, which can be volatile. But I do think that the Sixers will keep this game close with or without Embiid, and I'll take the points with the Sixers on Friday night.
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