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- What: NBA Regular Season Game
- When: February 20, 2025
- Who: Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
- Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
- Where: Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia, PA)
On Thursday evening, the Boston Celtics will play the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center in an exciting matchup.
Get ready as we provide our prediction for the Celtics vs. 76ers clash, marking the first game for both teams following the All-Star break.
The Boston Celtics kick off the closing stretch of the season with a road game against the Philadelphia 76ers, currently holding the second spot in the Eastern Conference.
In their last outing before the All-Star break, Jayson Tatum delivered an impressive performance with 32 points and 14 rebounds, leading the Celtics to a 116-103 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Kristaps Porzingis contributed significantly to the win over the Spurs, scoring 29 points, while Derrick White added 19 points along with nine assists and seven rebounds.
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The Philadelphia 76ers are struggling in the Eastern Conference, sitting at 20-34 as they approach the final 28 games of the season, largely due to ongoing injuries to Joel Embiid and Paul George.
Their situation hit a new low in their last game before the All-Star break, where they suffered a narrow 100-96 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
Game Preview (Celtics vs. 76ers)
Porzingis has stepped up as the Celtics’ key offensive support behind Tatum for two consecutive games. His 29-point effort marked his second-highest scoring game of the season, only trailing Tatum’s performance.
| Spread |  |  |  |
| Boston Celtics -7.5 Points | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Philadelphia 76ers +7.5 Points | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Since January, Porzingis has been averaging 20.1 points on an efficient 49.6 percent shooting, including 45.3 percent from beyond the arc on 5.9 attempts per game, along with 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks in about 30.1 minutes of play.
At home, the Celtics have a record of 17-10, though they’ve struggled recently with three losses in their last four games at TD Garden. In contrast, they’ve excelled on the road, boasting an impressive 22-6 record.
In the loss to the Nets, Paul George managed to score only two points while the team was also without stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, putting extra pressure on George to lead the offense, which did not go well.
"[Paul George was] brought over to move the needle. … He's not doing that." 😳 @KendrickPerkins and @ShamsCharania on Paul George's recent struggles and the 20-34 Philadelphia 76ers. pic.twitter.com/iVJ5FMk2KR
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 13, 2025
George hyperextended his knee during the preseason and has also been contending with an injury to his left pinky. His performance has noticeably declined, particularly in his last game before the break. Both Tyrese Maxey and George are set to be available for the matchup against Boston, but it remains uncertain whether Embiid will take the court.
Tyrese Maxey missed the last game before the break due to a knee contusion, while Joel Embiid has been uncertain for much of the season, and Paul George is currently receiving painkilling injections to manage his discomfort.
Given the Celtics’ impressive 22-6 road record this sets up an ideal opportunity for Boston to take control. Expect the Celtics to not only win but also cover the spread.
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Total Points
Both the 76ers and Celtics play at a deliberate pace, ranking among the bottom five in pace of play as they approach this matchup.
| Total Points | | | |
| Over 225.5 | -110 | -110 | -115 |
| Under 225.5 | -110 | -110 | -105 |
The Celtics are operating like a well-oiled machine as they head into the final 28 games of the season, firmly positioned in second place in a competitive Eastern Conference. In contrast, the 76ers are struggling, sitting at 20-34 and grappling with injuries to all three of their star players.
Boston boasts the fifth-best defensive rating in the league, while Philadelphia is struggling with a low offensive rating.
Last time we pulled up to Philly 😈 pic.twitter.com/qf0YXgxrOA
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 19, 2025
Derrick White has struggled lately, hitting only 5 of 19 attempts from three-point range over his last two games, partially due to Jaylen Brown’s absence (knee injury).
Once Brown returns, opposing defenses will have to focus more on him, which should create more opportunities for White.
Meanwhile, the Celtics’ defense is expected to stifle the injured and sluggish 76ers, who rank 25th in scoring and shot just 8 for 33 from beyond the arc in their last game.
Given these factors, take the under in this matchup.
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