The Boston Celtics (8-4) are in the City of Brotherly Love Wednesday for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off against the Philadelphia 76ers (9-5) at the Wells Fargo Center. Below, we analyze the Celtics-76ers NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Sixers odds, line, spread: 2020 NBA picks, Jan. 9 predictions from computer on 26-13 run The SportsLine Projection Model has simulated Thursday's Celtics vs. 76ers matchup 10,000 times. This is a preview for opening night but this game might be a preview of a dynamic playoff series come the end of the season. Sixers money line: 76ers +170, Celtics -190 PHI: The 76ers are 4-1 against the spread in their last five first-round games BOS: The Celtics went 14-6 without Hayward in the lineup in. The latest Celtics vs. Sixers odds from William Hill Sportsbook list Philadelphia as a 4.5-point favorite. The over-under for total points expected is set at 221.5. Before making any Sixers vs.

Boston has split its previous two games following a seven-day layoff due to postponements caused by COVID-19 issues. The Celtics crushed the Orlando Magic 124-97 Friday and then got destroyed 105-75 by the New York Knicks Sunday. Both games were in Boston.

The absence of All-Star C Joel Embiid really hurt a 76ers top-10 offense during a 106-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday. The 76ers shot 28% from behind the arc and turned the ball over 23 times.

Embiid is projected to be in the starting lineup Wednesday but, SG Seth Curry, who has missed the last six games after testing positive for COVID-19, remains out due to conditioning despite clearing medical protocols.

The 76ers won last season’s regular-season series 3-1 (3-1 ATS) but were swept in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs by the Celtics.

Celtics at 76ers: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:42 a.m. ET.

Money line: Celtics +155 (bet $100 to win $155) 76ers -190 (bet $190 to win $100)Against the spread/ATS: Celtics +4.5 (-110) 76ers -4.5 (-110)Over/Under: 221.5 (O: -110 U: -110)

Celtics at 76ers: Key Injuries

Celtics

SF Jayson Tatum (COVID-19) out

76ers

SG Seth Curry (conditioning) outSF Mike Scott (knee) out

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Celtics at 76ers: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Celtics 111, 76ers 107

Money line (ML)

Philadelphia beating Boston in the 2019-20 season series was more of a blip on the radar than it was something to latch onto moving forward. Also, we still don’t know how 76ers will look vs. good teams.

They marched out to a 7-1 record and appeared to be an Eastern Conference contender under first-year head coach Doc Rivers. The absence of Curry has made a big difference to the 76ers and their highly anticipated regular-season meetings with the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat were minimized due to COVID-related absences.

I leanCELTICS (+155) for a tiny wager only because the better play is Boston plus the points.

Against the spread (ATS)

The market is split currently on Celtics-76ers with a slight majority of the money (sharps) on Boston but a slight majority of the bets placed (average joes) on Philadelphia. As much as Tatum not being there hurts the Celtics in the long run, that intel is baked into this line.

Celtics Sixers Moneyline

Boston PG Kemba Walker made his season debut against the Knicks this past weekend and he was great in two of the Celtics’ regular-season wins over the 76ers last season. Additionally, SG Jaylen Brown is low-key playing at an All-NBA level and is probably Boston’s MVP at this point in the season.

TAKE CELTICS +4.5 (-110).

Over/Under (O/U)

For what it’s worth, the total has been steamed up from a 218-point opener to the current number so the market is betting the Over. I leanUNDER 221.5 (-110) initially because four of the past six Celtics-76ers games have gone Under the total, but the market movement makes me PASS ON THE TOTAL.

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Also see:

Time Lord likely vs. 76ers, per Stevens; Tatum, Edwards out Wednesday (Celtics Wire)Rivers doesn’t care about Simmons’ offensive decline just yet (Sixers Wire)

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The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics tip off their Eastern Conference best-of-seven series Monday at 6:30 p.m. ET in the bubble at Lake Buena Vista, Fla. We analyze the 76ers-Celtics NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.

76ers vs. Celtics: Key injuries

76ers

SG Ryan Broekhoff (personal) outSF Glenn Robinson III

Celtics Sixers Spread

(oblique) outSG Ben Simmons (knee) outSG Zhaire Smith (knee) out

Celtics

SG Romeo Langford (wrist) questionableC Vincent Poirier (groin) probableSF Jayson Tatum (ankle) probablePF Daniel Theis (foot) probable

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76ers vs. Celtics: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 5:35 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Celtics 115, 76ers 104

Moneyline (ML)

AVOID. The Celtics (-278) are too expensive on the moneyline, although confidence is high that they’re going to win this one outright. Even if Simmons were available to the 76ers (+220), I’d like the C’s in this one. However, risking almost three times your potential return is not wise wagering.

New to sports betting? A winning $10 bet on the Celtics would return a profit of just $3.60, while a $10 winner on the 76ers would fetch a profit of $22.

Also see:

Boston snubbed in restart awards (Celtics Wire)Philly’s plan vs. Boston (Sixers wire)HoopsHype – The latest NBA coverage

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The CELTICS (-5.5 , -110) might be the best bet on the big board for Day 1 of the NBA Playoffs. The 76ers (+5.5, -110) were one of the more disappointing performers during the regular season, and that was with Simmons. In eight seeding games in the Florida bubble, Philly went 4-4, winning just twice in five outings since Simmons went down. Back the C’s, and feel confident in doing so.

Over/Under (O/U)

AVOID. The lean here is to Over 218.5 (-110), as point totals in the bubble have resembled the days of Paul Westhead and run-and-gun basketball of yesteryear. However, Boston hit the Under in three of its past four outings, including the lowest combined total (186 points) against the Washington Wizards on Aug. 13. Of course, Boston had nothing at stake in that game. The C’s will be dissuaded from entering the paint with Sixers big man Joel Embiid present, but they needn’t worry about Simmons hounding them. If the perimeter shooting from the C’s is crisp – they ranked a so-so 13th in 3-point shooting (36.4 percent) during the regular season – an Over total could easily be in the cards.

Celtics Sixers Lineup

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