NBA Playoffs: Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers Game 4 – Odds, Prediction, & Start Time

After winning Game 1 without newly crowned NBA MVP Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers got their star back but promptly lost Games 2 and 3 to the Boston Celtics. Now, the odds are against Philly in Celtics vs. 76ers Game 4 on Sunday afternoon. The Celtics are looking to take one step closer to returning to the NBA Finals, For the Sixers, Doc Rivers’ crew hasn’t advanced out of the second round in the Embiid era, and a loss here would be devastating. For Celtics vs. 76ers Game 4, what have the oddsmakers have set?

As is typically the case in the NBA playoffs, a tight defense will take a team a long way. In the last two victories, Boston kept Philly to 87 and 102 points in Games 2 and 3, respectively. The Celtics also responded with big shots by Malcolm Brogdon and Al Horford when the 76ers started to make runs in the fourth quarter. During last year’s NBA Finals, Boston couldn’t get much production aside from Jayson Tatum in fourth-quarter meltdowns in the last two games to the Golden State Warriors. Game 1’s performance in Boston was also shaky.

Tatum is still carrying the Celtics on his back. Despite being just 3-11 from 3-point territory, Boston’s top scorer did just that, pouring in a team-high 27 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in Game 3. Jaylen Brown added 23, and Brodgon had 15 off the bench. With Brogdon and the five starters, there were six Celtics overall in double figures. Friday’s win also put Boston in the driver’s seat as far as NBA Championship futures go.

Without Embiid, James Harden took Game 1 over, scoring 45 points in the 119-115 win. Since then, the Celtics have showed a renewed focus on Harden, holding him to 5-for-28 shooting in Games 2 and 3. That percentage is the lowest in a two-game span for Harden over the course of his entire career–regular season and playoffs included. In good news for Philly, Embiid did have a solid game in scoring 30 points after officially accepting his MVP trophy in a moving ceremony on the court.

Now, it’s time for Embiid to perform like an MVP on the court. He admitted that the team was a bit slow in getting its offens going in Game 3. Expect a different look in Game 4, especially with the Celtics having successfully slowed Harden down. DeAnthony Melton had 14 points, but Tobias Harris was held to just seven points on Friday night. Regardless of a change in game plan, Philly will need to hit more shots if they’re going to keep up with the Celtics, who are averaging 116 points in the series.

The 76ers cruised through their first five playoff games. They swept Brooklyn and won Game 1 of this series in Boston. They are now facing some adversity but can tie up the series on Sunday afternoon and redeem themselves in front of their home crowd–just like Boston did during Game 2.

The oddsmakers have turned things around on Philadelphia, placing the Celtics vs. 76ers Game 4 odds in the favor of Boston by three points. It’s surprising to see the 76ers a home underdog after already winning a game of this series. That gives good value to the home team–a desperate one at that–and we’ll take the points Prediction: 76ers, 114-110.