Celtics vs 76ers Game 6 Odds, Picks, and Predictions: Can Celtics Supporting Cast Step Up?

The Philadelphia 76ers can punch their ticket to the Eastern finals with a victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of their conference semifinal set tonight. NBA playoff odds aren’t so optimistic when it comes to the Sixers’ chances.

Books have Philadelphia installed as a short home underdog Thursday, with that spread swelling as bettors back a desperate Boston team down 3-2 in the series. Home court hasn’t meant much in this series, as both teams have taken wins in their opponent’s arena.

I run down the point spread and Over/Under total for Game 6 and give my best NBA picks and predictions for Celtics at 76ers on May 11.

Celtics vs 76ers Game 6 best odds

Celtics vs 76ers Game 6 picks and predictions

It’s an “all hands on deck” situation for the Boston Celtics as they attempt to stave off elimination in Game 6 of this conference semifinal tonight.

Boston’s big guns Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are expected to lead the charge, but if the Celtics are going to live to bring this series back to Beantown, it needs role players like Derrick White to show up and show out.

White disappeared in Game 5, shooting just 2-for-6 for a mere seven points in his quietest effort since scoring four points in Game 1. His offensive efforts were a big part of the Celtics’ success in the previous three games, with outputs of 12, 13, and 15 points.

White’s scoring prop for Game 6 is sitting at 11.5 points (Over -105) on Thursday, which is well below his scoring rate in the postseason (14.1 ppg) but asking a little more when contrasted against his scoring average against the Sixers (10.2 ppg).

Player projections for White range from 11.4 to a ceiling closer to 14 points, with my number landing at 12.5. And with books dealing the Over 11.5 as short as -105 (some shops as pricey as -119), the value is there on White to play past the oddsmakers’ expectations.

White shot well in his two trips to Philly this series, firing at a collective 9-for-20 from the field, including 4-for-9 from beyond the arc. The Celtics will look to the energetic guard to pick up the pace against the 76ers defense and try to get Philadelphia on its heels, beating their bigger lineup down the floor.

White has logged major minutes as a starter with 30 or more in the past four games, including a series-high 34 minutes in Game 5’s loss. 

My best bet: Derrick White Over 11.5 points (-105)

Celtics vs 76ers Game 6 same-game parlay

Derrick White 12+ points (-120)

Tobias Harris Over 13.5 points (-110)

Marcus Smart Over 4.5 assists (-135)

+475 at DraftKings

White’s point total sits as much as 2.5 points shy of his point projections for Game 6 and he’s played his best games in this series in Philadelphia, unfazed by the unfriendly crowd. Harris is among the Sixers stepping up, with his projected points closer to 14.5 for Thursday. Marcus Smart can impact this game in a number of ways and his assist projection flirts with six dimes vs. a modest total of 4.5 assists. 

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Celtics vs 76ers Game 6 spread and Over/Under analysis

Following the 76ers’ stunning 115-103 victory in Boston as 8-point underdogs, oddsmakers opened Philadelphia as a 1.5-point pup back inside the Wells Fargo Center in Game 6. By Wednesday morning, that spread was up to Celtics -2 and climbed as high as -3 at some sportsbooks before settling in a at market consensus of -2.5 on Thursday morning.

Desperation is apparently worth at least half a point to the spread, as the Celtics closed as faves of -2 and -1 in their first two stops in Philly: a 114-102 win in Game 3 and a thrilling 116-115 loss in overtime in Game 4.

Boston has battled back from a 3-2 series deficit before, having rallied for two straight wins against Milwaukee in last year’s conference semifinals, so it’s tough to count the C’s out. But with just about every Sixers player clicking offensively and the Celtics’ defense intensity coming and going, Boston just doesn’t look like the same hungry team from last year’s postseason.

Philadelphia’s supporting cast around MVP Joel Embiid has been huge. The Celtics have no answer for Embiid inside and are getting flanked by James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris, who have all stepped up with big performances this series. While they hold the series lead, the pressure is on the 76ers to slam the door on this series tonight.

The Over/Under total for Game 6 opened at 214.5 points and has slimmed considerably to as low as 212, as of Thursday morning.

If that number holds or continues to drop, it would be the shortest total of the series. Game 5 closed with an Over/Under of 213.5, with the 115-103 final score playing Over that short number. The Over is 4-1 so far in this series, but bookies and bettors are bracing for a low-scoring grinder in Game 6.

Philadelphia wants to control the tempo and slow things down in a halfcourt set, working through Embiid to draw double teams and find the open hands on the perimeter. The 76ers continue to shoot well from beyond the arc in this series, hitting 38% from deep, including a 12-for-30 showing from beyond the arc in Game 5.

Boston is an aggressive team from the perimeter, averaging almost 41 3-point attempts per game in this series. The Celtics are hitting just under 37% of those long-range looks and that shooting did travel well in the past two matchups in Wells Fargo, with Boston averaging 16.5 makes from distance on better than 37% shooting.

Overall, the pace of this series has been much slower than other conference semifinals, owning a collective pace rating of 92.47 through five games. The two contests in Philadelphia were played at an even more methodical tempo, with the pace rating resting at a comatose 90.77.

Celtics vs 76ers betting trend to know

While home teams are a collective 38-24-1 ATS (61%) in the NBA Playoffs so far, home underdogs are a stale 7-7-1 ATS heading into Thursday’s slate. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. 76ers.

Celtics vs 76ers Game 6 game info

Celtics vs 76ers Game 6 key injuries

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