The Philadelphia 76ers are now locked in to a best-of-three showdown against the Boston Celtics with the Eastern Conference semifinal locked at 2-2 heading into Game 5 tonight at TD Garden. 

NBA Playoffs Odds: 76ers-Celtics Odds

• Philadelphia 76ers: +7 (-106)
• Boston Celtics: -7 (-114)
• Over: 214 (-108)
• Under: 214 (-112)

How To Watch 76ers vs. Celtics

• TV: TNT
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. PT

Let’s start this preview by answering a few questions...

• Did you believe the Sixers would win Game 1? 
• Did you believe James Harden would score 45 points in Game 1? 
• Did you believe that after losing Game 3, James Harden would score 40+ points to tie the series? 
• Did you believe that Joel Embiid’s knee would hold up and he would score 30+ two straight games? 
• Do you think the Sixers will win Game 5?

The answer for all five questions is probably an astounding “no” for anyone who chose to participate.

That’s why tonight’s game might actually work out in the Sixers’ favor. 

Incredible basketball analysis. I know. 

For those of you who didn’t die of a heart attack on Sunday afternoon after the Sixers evened the series with an overtime thriller over Boston, I highly doubt the next two or three games will be any easier. 

It’s also important to note that we are now four games into this series against the Boston and if you can’t figure out the key to beating the Celtics by now, I would suggest watching the Philadelphia Phillies tonight because basketball clearly isn’t clicking for you.

The Sixers survived in overtime Game 4 thanks to Joel Embiid and James Harden. Both players will certainly have to step up again tonight if they want to bring a 3-2 series lead back to Philadelphia on Thursday night for Game 6. 

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Harden recorded his second 40-point game of the series, finishing with 42 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in Game 4. He was incredibly efficient on both ends of the floor, knocking down 16-of-23 field goals including 6-of-9 from three point range. 

Joel Embiid took the next step in returning to MVP form in Game 4 as well, scoring 34 points while adding 12 points from the charity stripe. Still, Embiid looked gassed in the fourth quarter and finished just 11-of-26 from the floor. 

Good News: Embiid notched his second consecutive 30-point, 13-rebound game in this series and all things considered will continue to improve on those numbers tonight in Game 5.

Bad News: We are still waiting for a game where the Philadelphia 76ers, as a whole, put together a team effort to win a playoff game. 

Where’s the help?!

• Game 1: James Harden Yes. Joel Embiid No. 
• Game 2: No.
• Game 3: Joel Embiid Yes. Everyone Else No.
• Game 4: Joel Embiid Yes. James Harden Yes. 

The main issue with the Sixers is the fact that literally no one else has come to play over the last three games and they desperately need someone on the bench along with Tobias Harris and/or Tyrese Maxey to make their mark on the series. 

The Sixers provided little-to-no production from any role player in Game 4 while defensively, allowed Boston to knock down 17 three-pointers.

While the Sixers left the Wells Fargo Center with an overtime victory, that certainly cannot be a winning formula in a best of three. 

Tyrese Maxey seemed to break out of his struggles against the Boston Celtics in the regular season with a 26-point performance in Game 1. Unfortunately for Maxey and the Sixers, his production has fallen off a cliff, as he’s scored just 13, 13, and 14 points over the last three games.  

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The same goes for Tobias Harris, who was the clear x-factor for the Sixers in the first round of the playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets. Harris had an efficient Game 1 in the second round, scoring 18 points on 8-of-16 while hitting 2-of-3 from three point range. The Sixers got destroyed in Game 2, but Harris again was efficient, scoring 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting with yet another 2-of-5 coming from beyond the arc. 

Much like Maxey, the last two games for Harris have been horrible.

In Game 3, Harris scored just seven points while only getting up six field goals. He then followed up a bad Game 3 with a Game 4 performance in which he only scored nine points on 3-of-10 shooting. 

Do or Die: Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey

One of the Sixers two key starters needs to show up tonight and if not, Philadelphia better PRAY that De’Anthony Melton bounces back after a brutal 0-point effort in Game 4. 

Again, as you can clearly see with the information provided above, the Philadelphia 76ers will only get out of the second round of the playoffs if they can finally put together a full-team effort against the Boston Celtics. 

It simply hasn’t happened yet, but for whatever reason, I feel like each game we’re getting closer in making that a reality. 

Do yourself a favor and throw $10 down on this Same Game Parlay while you’re at it.

Sixers at Celtics Same Game Parlay

Must-Win Game Tonight in Boston

As far as I’m concerned, tonight is a must-win basketball game for the Philadelphia 76ers and should be treated like a Game 7. The Sixers need to do whatever it takes to avoid falling behind 3-2 and having to win two straight to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. I have zero faith in that actually working out in their favor which is why tonight has to be a win. 

For whatever reason, my brain is telling me the Sixers win this game tonight. While everyone else online has penciled this in as a loss tonight, I think that the Sixers win this game backed by James Harden, Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, and De’Anthony Melton.

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