The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics will open their seasons against one another at TD Garden on Wednesday night. These teams are both riddled with injuries going into this contest and will try to overcome those injuries to start their seasons with a win tonight. Before the action begins in Boston, continue reading to get my 76ers vs Celtics prediction.
Our 76ers vs Celtics Pick
- Pick: 76ers +3.5
- Confidence: ★★☆☆☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics
- Date & Time: Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
76ers vs Celtics Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Celtics −3.5 | Celtics −150 | 76ers +130 | 229.5 points |
Key Storylines
- The 76ers are entering the season with hope surrounding Joel Embiid. Embiid has avoided the injury report and appears set to play in the opener after a disastrous 2024-25 that saw him limited to 19 games. He is expected to carry a huge share of the offensive load.
- Philadelphia will be missing major contributors out of the gate even with Embiid on the floor. Paul George remains sidelined coming off offseason surgery. Guard Jared McCain is out at least four weeks after thumb surgery.
- The Celtics face a significant loss for the season in Jayson Tatum, who is ruled out with a torn Achilles. Jaylen Brown is also questionable for this game and the Celtics will have to overcome their injury issues if they want to win their opener.
- From a matchup standpoint, the Celtics could have some serious trouble guarding Embiid. Boston’s frontcourt from last season is completely gone, with Kristaps Porzingis in Atlanta and Al Horford with Golden State. How the Celtics scheme around guarding Embiid will be a huge determining factor in the outcome of this contest.
- Jrue Holiday was sent to Portland in the offseason and the Celtics brought in Anfernee Simons. Simons is an exciting young player but losing Holiday could be a short-term negative for the Celtics given his experience and veteran leadership.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
Boston won three of the four games against the Sixers this season. But the Celtics look a lot different than they did last year thanks to the injury to Tatum and the exodus of so many of their key players. We could see Boston struggle early in the year as they figure things out with their new-look roster.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Joel Embiid | Over 25.5 points |
| Jaylen Brown | Over 24.5 points (if he plays) |
| Tyrese Maxey | Over 2.5 three-pointers |
76ers vs Celtics Model Projection
Score Projection: Philadelphia 109 – Boston 110
Win Probability: Philadelphia 50%, Boston 50%
Final Thoughts
This game is a coin flip as far as I’m concerned, especially with Jaylen Brown’s status being uncertain to start the year. I’ll take the points with the Sixers, as Embiid should feast against the new-look frontcourt of Boston. But I don’t feel confident backing either of these teams right now.
