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Celtics vs. 76ers prediction: Why Boston is favored to win Game 3 [2026 NBA Playoffs]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Ryan Leaver, Senior Sports and Betting Editor
Get Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers predictions for NBA Playoffs Friday.
The Philadelphia 76ers will square off with the favored Boston Celtics in Game 3 of their 2026 NBA Playoffs series at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday, commencing at 7:00 PM ET.
Based on updated simulation results and today’s injury news, Dimers' advanced NBA model projects the Celtics as the most likely winner of the Celtics vs. 76ers Game 3 matchup.
This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the 76ers lineup will feature stars like Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and VJ Edgecombe, while the Celtics will be led by Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard.
This article offers further insights into Friday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.
Sixers vs. Sixers prediction: Who will win Game 3?
Using trusted machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Friday's NBA Playoffs matchup between the Celtics and 76ers, forming part of our NBA predictions coverage.
Our independent predictive model currently gives the Celtics a 72% chance of defeating the 76ers in Game 3 of the series. Our predicted final score has the Celtics winning 111-104.
According to our model, the 76ers (+7.5) have a 52% chance of covering the spread, while the 214.5-point over/under has a 52% chance of going over.
Celtics vs. 76ers Game 3 odds
We have sourced the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Celtics | 76ers |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | -7.5 (-108) | +7.5 (-110) |
| Moneyline | -300 | +245 |
| Total | o214.5 (-106) | u214.5 (-117) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Celtics vs. 76ers picks and best bet for Game 3
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | 76ers +7.5 | -110 |
| Moneyline | 76ers | +245 |
| Total | Over 214.5 | -106 |
According to our NBA best bets, the top play to make on this game is Over 214.5 total points.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Celtics vs. 76ers Game 3 player props
NBA prop bets are a common way to wager on Friday's Boston vs. Philadelphia game without necessarily betting on the outcome. We have crunched the numbers to project how each team's leading players will perform at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Jaylen Brown is expected to lead the Celtics with 30 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, while Tyrese Maxey is projected to have 26 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists for the 76ers.
Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.
Celtics prediction
Our model's projected player stats for the Celtics are:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylen Brown | 30 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 54 |
| Jayson Tatum | 26 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 57 |
| P. Pritchard | 16 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 31 |
| Derrick White | 16 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 36 |
| Neemias Queta | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 28 |
76ers prediction
Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the 76ers:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyrese Maxey | 26 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 47 |
| Paul George | 18 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 35 |
| VJ Edgecombe | 15 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 34 |
| Kelly Oubre | 13 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 26 |
| Quentin Grimes | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 18 |
Celtics vs. Sixers Game 3 updates and essential details
Friday's Game 3 between the 76ers and Celtics in the NBA Playoffs is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM ET.
- Who: Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
- Date: Friday, April 24, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
- Venue: Xfinity Mobile Arena
- NBA Playoffs bracket: Updated NBA Playoffs bracket and schedule
The NBA Playoffs is an annual postseason tournament held to decide the league's champion.
Sixteen teams, including the Celtics and 76ers, made the NBA Playoffs 2026, which includes four rounds: the First Round, Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and NBA Finals.
Each round is played as a best-of-seven series, with the first team to four wins progressing to the next round until a champion is crowned.
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Conclusion
We predict the Celtics, with a 72% win probability, will likely beat the 76ers in Friday's NBA playoffs matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
Ryan Leaver uses advanced statistical models and simulations to predict outcomes and provide predictions for the NBA, NFL, college football, college basketball, and soccer. He offers detailed game previews, best bets, props, and futures articles.
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