Philadelphia (31-18) at Boston (32-15)
When: Saturday, February 1st, 2020
Where: TD Garden,
Boston, MA
Time: 8:35 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Boston -4/218.5
We told you in our Thursday preview of the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Atlanta Hawks contest that Philly has had trouble this season on the road and to take the points. Well, it turned out we were right as the Hawks cruised past the 76ers and now Philadelphia has a tough stretch ahead of them beginning Saturday night at the Boston Celtics in ABC’s Showcase game. The Sixers dropped to 9-16 away from Wells Fargo Center in the loss in Atlanta, but one of those nine victories came at TD Garden against the Celtics. In fact, Boston has lost all three meetings thus far with Philly and will come into this contest as 4-point favorites. Joel Embiid, who recorded 38 points and 13 rebounds in his last visit to Boston, has returned strong from a finger injury, averaging 22.5 points on 63.0 percent shooting and 12 rebounds since coming back earlier in the week as Philadelphia defeated Golden State at home and then fell 127-117 at Atlanta. The Celtics have won five of their last six since a three-game losing streak in the middle of January after a 119-104 victory over the Warriors on Thursday. Gordon Hayward scored 25 points in the victory as the Celtics sit 1.5 games behind second place Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings.
The 76ers appeared to be taking Atlanta lightly on Thursday and trip after Boston takes them to Miami and Milwaukee after this. With a win tonight, Philadelphia would move to within one game of Boston for third place in the Eastern Conference. Ben Simmons, who joined Embiid as an All-Star selection Thursday, scored 31 points at Atlanta and finished the month shooting 62.6 percent from the field. The Sixers got a huge effort in the loss by guard Shake Milton, who had a career-high 27 points, while power forward Al Horford sat out the contest due to a sore knee but he is expected to play Saturday.
Boston sits 1.5 games behind Toronto for second place in the East entering Friday’s action and are 14-9-1 ATS at home. Point guard Marcus Smart came off the bench to score 21 points Thursday versus Golden State and had 24 in the most recent matchup with the Sixers on Jan. 9. Jayson Tatum came back from a three-game injury abscence to score 20 points on the day he was selected to his first All-Sar Game. Guard Kemba Walker has scored just 29 points total in the last two games after scoring 72 in the previous two. Boston will be at the resurgent Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
The Sixers have won all three meetings thus far with Boston, but I don’t like the way they’re playing on the road. The Celtics are hot right now and should be able to cover this 4-point spread.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Saturday. He is 54-43-3 on the season after a 7-0 run!
Pick: Celtics -4
76ers are 3-9-1 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
76ers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games as a road favorite.
76ers are 3-12-1 ATS in their last 16 road games.
76ers are 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
76ers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games as an underdog.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
Celtics are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games as a home underdog.
Celtics are 15-5 ATS in their last 20 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Celtics are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Celtics are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games.
Under is 4-0 in 76ers last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 6-0 in 76ers last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 8-2 in 76ers last 10 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.
Over is 9-3 in 76ers last 12 games as a favorite.
Under is 6-2 in 76ers last 8 road games.
Under is 8-3 in 76ers last 11 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in 76ers last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 7-3 in 76ers last 10 games as a road favorite.
Over is 9-4 in 76ers last 13 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 overall.
Under is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 games following a ATS win.
Under is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 games following a straight up win
Under is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 6-1 in Celtics last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Over is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 Saturday games.
Under is 19-8 in Celtics last 27 games as an underdog.
Under is 19-8 in Celtics last 27 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600
76ers are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Boston.
76ers are 5-11 ATS in the last 16 meetings.
Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Boston.
