76ers vs Celtics: Boston Favored Over Philly In Season Opener

The Boston Celtics welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to TD Garden on Tuesday for the first game of the 2022-23 NBA season. Can Boston follow up its NBA Finals run with a good start or will Philly spoil the Celtics’ home opener? Find out in our 76ers vs Celtics prediction.

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76ers vs Celtics Sportsbook Odds

The Celtics come in as the 6.5-point favorite at home for the season opener. The total was set at 213 points with the UNDER going 5-1 in the last six meetings between the two teams at TD Garden. Philadelphia has won five of the last seven meetings, so you may want to make a play and go with the underdog in your 76ers vs Celtics prediction.

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Embiid, Harden Head Into First Full Season Together

The 76ers ended their 2021-22 season in the second round – the same fate the club has endured four times in the last five years. This year, however, will mark the team’s first full season with both Joel Embiid and James Harden so perhaps they’re poised to get over the hump.

Embiid will, of course, be the main man in Philly again after a career year last season when he posted 30.6 points per game to finish as the NBA’s top scorer. Harden’s campaign was a bit more tumultuous after his fallout with the Brooklyn Nets and subsequent struggles in the postseason, so he’ll be looking to bounce back.

Celtics Look To Repeat Last Season’s Success

The Celtics come into this season with excitement as well as bitter disappointment after falling to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. It was Boston’s first Finals appearance since 2010 and obviously the first of the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown era. Luckily, both players are still around to potentially lead the team to another deep run.

Boston did have some offseason drama as head coach Ime Udoka was suspended by the club for the entirety of the 2022-23 season. On the positive side, they added Malcolm Brogdon, who could be a key scorer off the bench.

76ers Player Prop: Embiid OVER 29 Points (+102)

You know Embiid will be looking to get off to a hot start once again after putting up some career-best numbers in 2021-22. The big man is getting +102 to hit the OVER on 29 points or +127 to hit 31.

Celtics Player Prop: Tatum OVER 28 Points (+124)

Tatum led the Celtics with 26.9 points per game last season and topped the club in the playoffs as well with 25.6 points per contest. The forward is getting +124 to hit the OVER on 28 points. With the hype of the home crowd behind him on Sportsbook night, Tatum should clear it.

76ers: Keys To Victory

The key for the 76ers not only in this game but throughout the season will be to maximize the effectiveness of Embiid and Harden. Embiid came into his own last season with a near MVP-level performance, but Harden will need to find a way to ramp it up after posting his lowest points per game mark in 12 years.

Celtics: Keys To Victory

Boston was the NBA’s top defensive team in 2021-22, allowing a minuscule 103.9 points per game. Defense will once again be a major area of focus for the Celtics, who will need to find a way to limit the damage from Embiid and Harden in this season opener.

NBA Computer Pick: Celtics -6.5

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