Game five of an Eastern Conference Second Round series is set for Tuesday night when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Boston Celtics. These two teams are coming off a classic fourth quarter/overtime in game four and this series has now turned into a best of three. Below is my NBA pick for the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Boston Celtics.

Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics Betting Pick

The Pick: Boston Celtics -7.0

This game will be played at TD Garden at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

Why Bet the Boston Celtics:

✅ Boston has covered the spread in 10 of their last 14 games played.

✅ The Celtics have won 10 of their last 12 games at TD Garden.

✅ Philadelphia has covered the spread in just two of their last nine games against Boston.

Philadelphia 76ers are James Harden Dependent

Philadelphia has been all over the place in this series and it has a direct correlation with James Harden mood. Harden, a former NBA MVP, has dominated in two games this series and the 76ers have won both of those matchups, but he took off games two and three and the Sixers were blown out. The Sixers were impressive most of game four, but needed a late comeback to force overtime and to get the win.

Philadelphia looked to be in complete control early leading by eight after the first quarter and by nine at the half. The Sixers led by as many as 16 points, but the Celtics kept chipping away and grabbed a late fourth quarter lead. Boston could not hang on to the lead and the Sixers were able to force overtime. The Celtics led by two with under 30 seconds to go in overtime, but James Harden hit a corner three that ended up being the game winning shot. A must win game that the Sixers did everything in their power to lose.

Harden went off for 42 points, eight rebounds, nine assists, and four steals in the win. Joel Embiid added 34 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists on the night.

The Boston Celtics Need to Call a Timeout

Boston will be sick with this loss as they were up five with two minutes to go and ended up losing in overtime. The Celtics have won two blowouts in this series, but have crumbled in the only two close games. A talented, but strange, Celtics team.

In the game four loss, Jayson Tatum had 24 points, 18 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks. Malcolm Brogdon added 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench.