The PHILADELPHIA and the BOSTON will both be gunning for a victory on 10/16/2018 at 8:05 PM when they meet in a game matchup.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS vs BOSTON CELTICS
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
| ROT | TEAM | PS | OU | ML |
| 501 | PHILADELPHIA | -4.5 (-110) | 209 (-110) | 170 -200 |
| 502 | BOSTON |
TV: 8:05 PM
LINE: -4.5
PREDICTION: BOSTON , PHILADELPHIA
Oddsmakers currently have the BOSTON listed as -4.5 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at 209.
The Boston Celtics are considered the Eastern Conference favorites and they will open the season at home on Tuesday against another contender in the visiting Philadelphia 76ers. LeBron James’ departure from Cleveland has elevated Boston into the team to beat after it lost to the Cavaliers in last season’s conference finals.
Philadelphia is an emerging force after a stellar campaign last season and the opener is a rematch of the Eastern Conference semifinals that Boston won in five games. “We won, so they’re probably a little more fired up or angry than we are, but we’re excited to play,” Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum told reporters. “We had a lot of good matchups with them last year, a lot of great battles, especially in the playoffs. Everybody is going to be watching.” Boston reached the East finals without point guard Kyrie Irving (knee) and small forward Gordon Hayward (ankle), while the 76ers’ improvement has increased expectations. “It’s hard to have pressure (to excel) this year,” Philadelphia power forward Dario Saric told reporters. “But I think this team is ready to handle things. The coaches will help us, because they know the team has quality to do that. I think we will be really amazing on the court.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE 76ERS (2017-18: 52-30): Center Joel Embiid reached superstar status by averaging 22.9 points and 11 rebounds last season and has expressed numerous times that he wants to be league MVP this season. Philadelphia coach Brett Brown tried to temper those expectations by saying he is only interested in Embiid being “Most Valuable Person” as the franchise looks to reach the 50-win mark in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 76ers rolled off seven straight such campaigns (1979-86) during the Julius Erving era. Point guard Ben Simmons looks to build off his Rookie of the Year campaign in which he averaged 15.8 points, 8.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (2017-18: 55-27): Hayward badly broke his lower left leg in last year’s season opener and he’ll be paced early in the campaign but the hope is he’ll eventually find his former All-Star form from the 2016-17 season with the Utah Jazz. “He’s a guy that can play a lot of different roles,” Boston coach Brad Stevens told reporters. “He’ll have games this year where he scores the ball at a high level, and he’ll have games that he doesn’t but does other things to add value to winning.” Hayward and Irving will be complemented by impressive young players Tatum (13.9 points) and shooting guard Jaylen Brown (14.5) as well as veteran big man Al Horford (12.9 points, 7.4 rebounds).
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Celtics won 14 of the past 16 regular-season meetings.
2. 76ers SG JJ Redick made 193 3-pointers last season to narrowly miss making 200 for a fourth straight campaign.
3. Boston PG Terry Rozier, who returns to a backup role with Irving healthy, averaged 19 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists in the playoff series against Philadelphia.
PREDICTION: Celtics 108, 76ers 105
| Tony’s Pick | TEAM |
| BOSTON | -200 |
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