The Boston Celtics have all but locked up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They still have a 12% chance of scoring the No. 1 seed, but with four games against competing teams on their schedule, getting the wins necessary may prove difficult — especially with one of their star wings hurt. The latest Jaylen Brown injury update reveals that the wing is questionable with lower back pain. Bettors must seriously consider whether Jaylen Brown is playing tonight before placing their wagers.
The Celtics and 76ers will tip off at 8 p.m. ET, making this one of the slate’s later games. Those looking for an edge should heed this advice or check out OddsShopper’s tools for sharp NBA bets. A full subscription to OddsShopper Premium will help you find +ROI bets and become a profitable sports bettor!
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Jaylen Brown Injury Update – NBA Betting Impact
The Boston Celtics have now listed Jaylen Brown as questionable with lower back pain for two straight games. Brown played through the tag on Friday as the Celtics scored a win over the Utah Jazz, which kept them alive in the race for the Eastern Conference’s top seed. Boston would clinch at least the No. 2 seed with a win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday and would stay on the heels of the No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks.
Brown has missed only 12 games for the Celtics this year, and his back hadn’t been an issue earlier in the campaign. While it’s encouraging that he played through the pain against the Jazz, racking up 34 minutes in the process, head coach Joe Mazzulla has to be smart with his star wing. Risking further injury for an outside chance at the No. 1 seed isn’t smart, especially with the Celtics virtually guaranteed to score a top-two seed. The Celtics are 8-3 without Brown this year.
Should Brown sit, the Celtics will probably trust Derrick White to start in his place. The Celtics should get both Al Horford and Robert Williams III back after they missed the second leg of a back-to-back, but if they don’t, their starting five could look considerably funkier. Further, Mazzulla’s recent choice to deploy Williams off the bench could lead Grant Williams or Sam Hauser to pick up a start.
Celtics-76ers NBA Betting Tips & Advice
The Boston Celtics will visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Unlike the Celtics, the 76ers do not have a shot at the No. 1 seed. They also don’t have much of a shot of falling back to the No. 4 seed. But despite their limited range of outcomes, head coach Doc Rivers isn’t holding any of his stars out of what could be a playoff preview. Joel Embiid and James Harden have both cleared the injury report.
If the Celtics opt to hold Brown out, especially after he played through the same injury tag last Friday, it’s unlikely they’ll push hard for a win. Boston’s competitive remaining schedule, which includes a pair of games against the Toronto Raptors and a date with the Atlanta Hawks, will make dethroning the Bucks difficult. Tapping out a game early to get ready for the playoffs could prove advantageous.
The 76ers opened as a 2.5-point home favorite over the Celtics. Because of their clean injury report, I expect them to take this game seriously — possibly far more seriously than Boston will. Philadelphia is 24-14-1 against the spread at home, the NBA’s second-best such record, while Boston is 21-19 against the spread on the road.
Although Brown may end up playing this one, fading the Celtics early at DraftKings Sportsbook could prove sharp. Consider backing the 76ers to cover a modest spread before Boston shows its hand. Those new to DraftKings can earn $150 in bonus bets with a winning $5 moneyline wager. Bettors in Ohio can score the same deal but via this link instead!
