NBA
Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics Odds, Tips and Prediction
During the festive holiday season, the Philadelphia 76ers will face off against their fierce local rivals, the Boston Celtics.
Boston Celtics and Guerschon Yabusele//Getty Images
The Boston Celtics will play on their home court on Christmas Day as they host fierce local rivals the Philadelphia 76ers. Both teams seek to end the festive season with a cheer from their respective fanbases. Can the 76ers transform their season with a much-needed win, or will the Celtics continue to put on a show in front of their home fans?
SportsBoom’s preview will cover all the major talking points for this anticipated blockbuster Christmas clash. The 76ers desperately need a win to transform their season, but the Celtics are looking to finish as the number-one seed in the East in back-to-back conferences.
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Match Details: Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics
Date: Wednesday 25th December
Start time: 5 pm local time (10 pm BST)
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, MA
Last meeting: February 27, 2024, Boston Celtics 117-99 Philadelphia 76ers
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Boston Celtics is the heavy favourite to win:
Boston Celtics: 2/7 (1.29) – 77.8%
Philadelphia 76ers: 33/10 (4.40) – 23.3%
Odds courtesy of Betway, subject to change
Head-to-Head Record
The Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics have previously met a grand total of 467 times in the regular season, as this historic matchup sees both teams collide once again.
For the first time this season, both teams will go toe-to-toe, and the home side, the Celtics, has a slight advantage in form. Boston has won the previous three matches but also has a significantly better-winning record overall, boasting 270 wins, with the 76ers winning only 197.
Last Five Matches:
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2023/24 Season | February 27 2024 | Boston Celtics 117-99 Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2023/24 Season | December 1, 2023 | Boston Celtics 125-119 Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2023/24 Season | November 15, 2023 | Boston Celtics 117-107 Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2023/24 Season | November 8, 2023 | Philadelphia 76ers 106-103 Boston Celtics |
| 2022/23 Season | April 4, 2023 | Philadelphia 76ers 103-101 Boston Celtics |
How is the season so far for both teams?
Philadelphia 76ers
- Record: 9-17
- Home Form: 4-9
- Road Form: 5-8
The Philadelphia 76ers’ decline these last few years has heightened this season after finishing seventh and third in the previous two years. Philadelphia has been searching for its first win over the Celtics since November 2023. Still, after their leading figure, Joel Embiid, has been battling injuries, the team has struggled to find momentum. He has only been featured in six games in the previous month, and there are clear signs that the 76ers miss his presence on the court.
Offensively, it’s not just Embiid’s absence that has caused problems. The 76ers are struggling all round with injuries, as Tyrese Maxey and Paul George are dealing with spells on the side line, too. As a collective trio, all three have played with each other only four times this season and, as such, have seen stats that put them amongst one of the worst offensive teams in the entire league.
Boston Celtics
- Record: 22-6
- Home Form: 11-4
- Road Form: 11-2
The Boston Celtics will look forward to this encounter on Christmas Day. The team have a 7-3 record based on their previous ten matches, but the 76ers aren’t looking sharp and in full flow so far this season.
Celtic’s most valuable player and arguably the best player in the NBA this season is Jayson Tatum. He is their lead operator in assists, points per game, and rebounds. His contributions on both ends of the floor are crucial. In a recent match in the last week against the Chicago Bulls, Tatum produced an impressive triple-double, shooting 43 points and producing 15 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Celtics’ depth is one of their core foundations for success, as the Boston team is utilising their entire roster and ensuring their best stars remain healthy. Their first-choice center, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis, has averaged nearly 20 points per game and claimed several rebounds on each occasion.
Value Bets
Tyrese Maxey: Over 25 Points and 5 Assists: Philadelphia’s 2020 first-round pick Maxey will likely be the 76ers’ main threat heading into this match. In the 20 games he has started and featured in this season, he is averaging slightly above 25 points per game and five assists. We predict a replica of his seasonal stats in this game.
Jayson Tatum: Over 30 Points and 10 Rebounds: Tatum’s form is currently red-hot, but surprisingly, he has only averaged 20.1 points in all his previous matches with Philadelphia. However, during the first portion of this season, he has raised his game to even greater numbers and is a real threat in every game he plays. SportsBoom predicts Tatum will complete double digits in points and rebounds but nearly match his seasonal points-per-game average.
Prediction: Boston Celtics to Win
The 76ers’ battle with injuries and the lack of cohesion between their three biggest offensive weapons mean they will fall to another defeat to one of their biggest rivals. On paper, this game should be filled with lots of exciting action, but the Celtics’ depth and multiple weapons make it a more straightforward match to call.
Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship and earned a Multimedia Sports Journalism degree from UCFB in 2023.
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