Celtics 76ers Line: Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
The Celtics 76ers line was coming in at Philadelphia -1.5 for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. You can bet this game at Sportsbook here and qualify for up to $250 in FREE CASH.
Sportsbook.ag Line: Philadelphia -1.5 & 175.5
Openining Line & Total: Sixers -2 & 175
The Celtics blew out the 76ers in Game 5, but they’ll be hard-pressed to post another lopsided win as they try to end Philly’s season Wednesday on its home floor.
After trailing by three points at halftime on Monday, Boston exploded in the second half, outscoring the visiting Sixers 54-35 en route to a comfortable 101-85 win. But this time it wasn’t one of the four Celtics stars that led the way on offense, instead it was PF Brandon Bass who scored a whopping 27 points on 9-of-13 FG and 9-of-10 FT. But it wasn’t all Bass, as the usual suspects, PG Rajon Rondo (13 points, 14 assists) and PF Kevin Garnett (20 points, six rebounds) also had big games. Now the series goes back to Philly where Boston lost 92-83 in Game 4, marking its fourth defeat in the past five trips to Wells Fargo Center. The Celtics have averaged a dreadful 81.5 PPG in these four losses, but they did pour in 107 points there in Game 3. Also, Boston is 12-3 ATS in road games after allowing 85 points or less this season, and Philly is 16-33 ATS (33%) when favored at home by six points or less in the past three years.
Although the 76ers were held to 85 points in Game 5, they still shot 47% FG and held the slight edge in both rebounding (37-31) and points in the paint (46-44). The 76ers are a perfect 4-0 when coming off an SU loss in the 2012 playoffs though, holding these teams to just 83.5 PPG. But Boston, despite being a veteran club, is 28-16 SU (26-18 ATS) on one day’s rest this season, holding these opponents to 89.2 PPG. Philadelphia has also held strong with just one off-day in between games, going 26-19 (24-21 ATS).
Although Bass, Garnett and Rondo all played outstanding in Game 5, SF Paul Pierce and SG Ray Allen didn’t do a whole lot. Pierce finished with 16 points (3-of-7 FG, 9-of-9 FT), but had just four rebounds and three assists in 39 minutes of action. Pierce has been a road warrior in the playoffs though with 25.0 PPG (45% FG, 8-of-18 threes) and 9.5 RPG in his past four road games. Allen started off this series with two solid games (14.5 PPG on 46% FG), but has scored a total of 13 points on 5-of-14 FG (2-of-9 threes) in his past three contests combined. With starting SG Avery Bradley expected to miss his second straight game with a shoulder injury, Allen will have to provide more offense with his increased minutes as a starter. Two reserves that both shined in Monday’s win were C Greg Stiemsma who scored 10 points on 5-of-5 FG, and added three blocks in just 14 minutes of action, and SF Mickael Pietrus who posted a +14 rating in his 20 minutes.
There was an Elton Brand sighting in Game 5, as the high-priced power forward finally showed up to play this series. After totaling 17 points (38.9% FG) in Games 1-4, Brand exploded for 19 points (8-of-13 FG) in 30 minutes in Monday’s loss. But none of his teammates had more than dozen points on the night. SF Andre Iguodala scored a mere eight points (3-of-10 FG) with a weak minus-13 rating for the game. Iguodala has been more efficient on his home floor though, averaging 15.0 PPG on 49% FG (8-of-14 threes), 6.8 RPG and 3.8 APG in his past four games at Wells Fargo Center. SG Evan Turner is coming off a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds), but he has gone ice-cold in the past three games, making a pathetic 24% FG (11-of-45). PG Jrue Holiday has been outplayed by Rondo this series, as evidenced by his minus-42 rating (Rondo is +22). But Holiday has been the 76ers’ most consistent scorer with 13.5 PPG on 50% FG (9-of-15 threes) in the past four games, tallying double-figure points in all four contests. PG Lou Williams (10.8 PPG, 3.4 APG in series) and SF Thaddeus Young (9.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG in series) have made big contributions off the bench, but the duo connected on just 6-of-18 shots with four turnovers and a minus-23 rating in Game 5. PF Lavoy Allen scored 12 points off the bench on Monday, making all six of his shots, but finished with a game-worst minus-15 rating.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
