Celtics Set to Stomp Sixers For a Third Straight Time

The Boston Celtics aren't playing around – especially on the defensive end – as they look to take a stranglehold on their Eastern Conference first-round series with the Philadelphia 76ers. Boston enters Game 3 Friday at HP Field House having won the first two games by a combined 35 points while holding the 76ers to just 101 points in both victories.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Game 3 spread started at Boston -4.5, and has risen to -5 or even -5.5 in some spots. The line opened at 216 but can now be found at either 217 or 217.5 depending on the book.

Boston News & Notes

No Gordon Hayward? No problem for the East's No. 3 seed, which overcame the absence of its starting small forward with emphasis. The Celtics shot 51.2 percent from the floor and better than 44 percent from 3-point range to improve to 14-5 ATS in its last 19 meetings with Philadelphia. Jayson Tatum led the way with 33 points after scoring 32 in the series opener.

The Celtics' impressive offensive showing has been matched – or even surpassed – by its stinginess on defense. The 76ers are averaging the third-fewest points of any team through the first two games of the postseason, while its 29.2-percent success rate from 3-point range is ahead of only the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers (27.1 percent).

Philadelphia News & Notes

Don't be surprised to see Joel Embiid post a few "Help Wanted" posters around The Field House on Friday night. The Philadelphia center has been outstanding through two games, averaging 30 points and 13 rebounds while shooting nearly 53 percent. But his scoring average is nearly equal to the next two players on the Sixers: Josh Richardson (18.0 ppg) and Tobias Harris (14.0).

If the Sixers have any hope of getting back into this series, they'll need to fix what's ailing them from beyond the arc – and that means getting something from guys other than Richardson and Shake Milton. The duo has shot 10-of-22 from long range through the first two games, while the rest of the team is just 4-for-26; Embiid has just one make in six 3-point attempts.

Betting Pick: Celtics -5 (-110)

Boston has controlled this series so far – and with the Sixers sorely missing top playmaker Ben Simmons, it's hard to see the Sixers bouncing back Friday.