Celtics vs. 76ers Line – Game 4 NBA Playoffs

Carrie Stroup here with your Celtics vs. 76ers line for Game 4 of the NBA Playoffs.  Philadelphia was a -2 point home favorite here at Sportsbook. 

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Philadelphia -2 & 174

Opening Line & Total: 76ers -2 & 173.5

After capturing the series lead with an impressive road win in Game 3, Boston looks to hand the 76ers another home loss when the teams meet again on Friday night.

The Celtics brought their “A” game to Philadelphia on Wednesday, crushing the 76ers 107-91. Boston won the second and third quarters by a combined score of 61 to 33. In these middle quarters, Boston shot 64% FG with Kevin Garnett scoring 19 points with nine rebounds, and Rajon Rondo tallying 10 points, 10 assists and zero turnovers. For the game, Garnett finished with 27 points and 13 boards, while Rondo had 23 points and 14 assists. The C’s are now 8-3 SU (5-5-1 ATS) in their past 11 visits to Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers don’t usually beat great teams, going 15-26 ATS (37%) against clubs with winning records this season, and falling to 15-33 ATS (31%) as a home favorite of six points or less over the past three seasons. Also, NBA home teams are 37-66 ATS (35.9%) when coming off an upset loss as a home favorite over the past five seasons.

Both teams have played incredible defense in the 2012 playoffs, as the Celtics are giving up 84.1 PPG on 41% FG, and the 76ers aren’t far behind at 87.3 PPG on 43% FG. Philadelphia is a strong home team at 22-15 (19-18 ATS), and was allowing a meager 85.1 PPG on 41% FG at Wells Fargo Center this season before giving up 107 to Boston on Wednesday. The Sixers are 20-14 (18-16 ATS) after an SU loss this season, and a solid 25-19 (23-21 ATS) with one day of rest this season.

In addition to Garnett and Rondo stepping up in Game 3, SF Paul Pierce also had a huge performance with 24 points and 12 rebounds after scoring a total of 21 points (25% FG) in Games 1-2. Despite playing with a sprained knee, he also tallied four assists, three steals and a +13 rating. PF Brandon Bass also had his best game of the series with 10 points (5-of-10 FG), five rebounds and a +21 rating in 27 minutes. Bass made just 37.5% FG (9-of-24) in Games 1-2. Boston didn’t get a whole lot out of the No. 2 guard position though. Avery Bradley, Ray Allen and Marquis Daniels combined to take just three shots in 48 minutes, tallying six rebounds, one assist and one turnover. Backup C Ryan Hollins made his presence felt in the lane with three blocks in his 16 minutes.

Philadelphia really struggled down low on Wednesday. After losing the rebounding battle 47-36 in Game 2, the Sixers were outrebounded again, 44-37, in Game 3. They were also outscored in the paint by a 50-38 margin, and shot a pathetic 38% on two-point field goals (53% on threes) on Wednesday.

SF Thaddeus Young took it upon himself to look for his offense, leading Philly with 22 points (10-of-16 FG) in just 26 minutes. He entered the game averaging just 6.5 PPG on 18-for-48 FG (37.5%) in the 2012 playoffs, including a mere nine total points (1-of-7 FG) in Games 1-2 of this series. PG Jrue Holiday had a second straight excellent performance, following up an 18-point effort in Game 2 with 15 points, nine assists and six rebounds in Game 3. But the rest of the starting five all posted subpar nights. SF Andre Iguodala was held to 10 points, two assists and three turnovers, posting a minus-16 rating. C Spencer Hawes notched just four points and four rebounds in 25 minutes, and PF Elton Brand continued his awful series with three points (1-of-6 FG), four rebounds and a game-worst minus-23 rating in just 15 minutes of action. Brand, who averaged 11.0 PPG and 7.2 RPG in the regular season, has just 4.7 PPG and 3.0 PPG in 16.0 MPG during this series. Starting SG Evan Turner scored just four points on 1-of-10 shooting, but was able to grab a team-best eight rebounds, while notching three assists and two blocks. PG Lou Williams and SG Jodie Meeks each scored 13 points off the bench. Williams, who led Philly in scoring during the regular season (14.9 PPG) has been cold during this series with 10.0 PPG on 11-of-34 FG (32%).

• Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter