Celtics and 76ers Knotted at 1-1, Game 3 Tips Off Tonight With Joel Embiid Still Out
The Boston Celtics roll into Philadelphia tonight for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series with the 76ers, and this thing is locked up tight. After splitting the first two games at TD Garden, both teams are hungry to seize control, but the Celtics come in as the heavy favorites with a 56-26 regular season record compared to Philly's 45-37 mark. The Celtics are sitting at negative 8.5 on the spread, and their win probability is sitting pretty at 60.1 percent early in the contest.
The Celtics Are Rolling, But Philly Has Fight
Boston's been the better team all season long. The Celtics finished the regular season with a 26-15 record on the road, which is why Vegas has them as a significant favorite even heading into enemy territory at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. The 76ers aren't going away quietly though, notching a 23-18 home record that shows they can compete when the crowd is behind them. Tyrese Maxey has been a bright spot for Philadelphia, and the team picked up a couple of wins in the series already to prove they belong in this fight.
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Here's the problem: Joel Embiid is out with an abdomen issue and isn't expected back until April 26 at the earliest. That's a massive loss for any team in the playoffs. Without their centerpiece, the 76ers are leaning on depth and grit, with Paul George and the rest of the squad trying to pick up the slack. It's doable, but it's tough when your franchise player is sidelined during a playoff series.
Tipoff is tonight at 4:00 PM Eastern on Prime Video. The Celtics need to protect their road record and push the series to 2-1. For the 76ers, it's desperation time with Embiid down. Game 4 follows Sunday at 4:00 PM on NBC and Peacock. This is exactly the kind of series that can turn on a single possession or a couple of clutch shots. Buckle up.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.