The Philadelphia 76ers will host the Boston Celtics tonight in South Philadelphia for Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs. 

Joel Embiid returned in Game 2 and while at times he played great defensively, there was definitely a lot left to be desired on the offensive end of the court. The lack of offense wasn’t an Embiid-specific issue. The Sixers started the game a miserable 1-for-13 from three point range and got buried in the third quarter by the Celtics in route to a 34-point Game 2 loss. 

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The Sixers did stay competitive for the first half and only trailed by 10 points at the break. The game spiraled out of control in the third quarter and the Celtics couldn’t miss from three point range, building up 29-point lead and putting the game out of reach before the final frame. 

Now, the series heads back to Philadelphia tied at 1-1 and after the first two games, the Sixers did their job, stealing Game 1 on the road, earning home court advantage in what’s now a five game series. 

There’s really nothing else to say about Game 2.

It was a bad loss. Everyone wanted the Sixers to win. They didn’t. The Celtics punched them in the mouth and the Sixers shot just 39.2 percent from the floor and a miserable 20 percent from beyond the arc. The Celtics shot nearly 47 percent from the floor and almost 40 percent from three point range. 

Unlike Game 1, the Sixers lost the turnover battle and got out rebounded 46-41 in Game 2. 

Still, it should have been expected from a Celtics team with their backs up against the wall. 

When the road team wins the first game of the series, there are countless examples of them getting their shit kicked in the following game. In this year’s playoffs alone, we saw the same thing happen to the Miami Heat against the Milwaukee Bucks and then again last night with the Los Angeles Lakers losing in blowout fashion to the Golden State Warriors. 

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Entering Game 3, Joel Embiid is currently listed as questionable, but given the fact that he played in Game 2 and all reports indicate that his knee held up well after the game, it looks like he’ll be ready to go tonight after he officially accepts his MVP trophy in front of what should be a sold out, rowdy crowd at the Wells Fargo Center.

Embiid was definitely rusty in Game 2 and struggled to find his rhythm on the court. He played 27 minutes, took eight free throws and tallied five blocks in the blowout loss. 

Literally no one on the Sixers played well in Game 2. Everyone needs to be better. Period. 

The good news is that Embiid now has a game under his belt as he will continue to play through an LCL sprain that the MVP himself said “should have kept him out 4-6 weeks.” His rhythm should definitely improve tonight and the Sixers as a whole should be able to get back to playing their style of basketball.

Ball movement and controlling the pace of the game is of the upmost importance tonight and obviously the Sixers need to space the floor and find more quality shots than they did in Game 2. 

Sixers Betting Notes

• ATS at Home: 26-16-1 
• SU at Home: 31-12
• SU Home Underdog: 3-2 

Game 3 Odds – Sixers HOME DOGS

Prediction

Game 2 was actually the perfect time for the Boston Celtics to go red hot from three point range. The game was over already, the Sixers accomplished their goal on the road and Embiid got his legs back under him while not having to go overboard thanks to the blowout loss. I really like the Sixers tonight as home dogs with Embiid and company bouncing back to take a 2-1 series lead.

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