Philadelphia (3-3) at Boston (3-3)
When: Sunday, May 14th 2023
Where: TD Garden,
Boston, MA
Time: 3:30 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Boston -7/205
No two franchises in NBA history have played more Game 7s against one another than the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics. They will add to that total on Sunday afternoon with their eighth Game 7 matchup. The winner will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals where they will play the Miami Heat beginning Wednesday night.
The Celtics improved to 7-4 in their last 11 meetings with Philadelphia with their Game 6 victory, but are just 4-4 in their past eight home dates against them including two this series. Boston has enjoyed success in recent Game 7 appearances, winning five of their past six including three of four at home.
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The 76ers ride a three-game losing streak in Game 7 situations including an 85-75 loss in Boston in 2012. They have not won a Game 7 on the road since bouncing the Celtics from the Eastern Conference Finals in 1982.
Philadelphia will be attempting to move past the semifinals for the first time since 2001, when Allen Iverson led the 76ers to the NBA Finals. Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers has a 6-9 record in Game 7s, and have never won a Game 7 on the road. Boston is a 6.5-point home favorite on Sunday with a total of 201.
The 76ers trailed by as many as 16 points in the second quarter on Thursday, but clawed their way back into the game and briefly seized the lead in the third quarter. Philadelphia shot just 36.1% from the field and a brutal 8-for-34 from beyond the arc. Philadelphia missed 15 of its 20 shots from the field in the fourth, including eight 3-point attempts.
Joel Embiid led the way with 26 points and 10 rebounds, but his teammates couldn’t get him the ball enough in the final quarter. James Harden recorded just 13 points on 4-for-16 shooting, including a 0-for-6 from 3-point range. Harden has averaged just 14.5 points in his past two games in Boston.
Despite the win, the Celtics converted just 42.6% of field goal attempts for the game, and failed to score more than 24 points in a quarter after opening the game on a 15-3 run. Tatum scored 10 of his 19 points on the night in the final 4:14 of the contest. Marcus Smart led the team with 22 points and Boston will more from their supporting cast.
Tatum, who averaged 30.1 points per game during the regular season, hit only one of 13 shots from the field, and missed all of his first six 3-point attempts. He then nailed 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. Boston outrebounded Philly 56-45 in Game 6.
Boston has the advantage here being at home but mostly because of the coach on the other side. Rivers has a horrible record in close-out games and Game 7s. However, this Philadelphia team has played well in Boston and should be able to at least keep it close.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for today.
Pick: 76ers +6.5
