Philadelphia-76ers vs Boston Celtics Picks and Predictions February 20th 2025

Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers: A Tale of Two Teams

The Boston Celtics (43-12) and Philadelphia 76ers (32-23) are headed in opposite directions as they prepare for a marquee showdown Thursday night in Philadelphia.

• Boston enters hot, winning seven of its past eight games and sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings.
• Philadelphia has lost five straight and seven of its last eight, struggling without MVP Joel Embiid (knee).

This is the third meeting of the season between these two Atlantic Division rivals:

• Dec. 25 – 76ers won 117-112 (in Boston)
• Feb. 2 – Celtics won 118-110 (in Philadelphia, rallying from 26 points down)
• March 6 – Final regular-season meeting in Boston

Thursday’s game could mark the return of Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, giving the Sixers a much-needed boost.

Celtics on Cruise Control

The Celtics dominated the first half of the season, finishing with the best record in the NBA before the All-Star break.

They wrapped up the first half with a 116-103 win over San Antonio, led by:

Tatum (27.0 PPG) and Brown (22.9 PPG) continue to lead Boston’s top-five scoring offense, while Porzingis has provided much-needed size and shooting in the frontcourt.

“We’re going to peak at the right moment,” Porzingis said after the win. “We’re going to hit our stride and just look like a team that’s going to win it all again.”

The Celtics lead the NBA in net rating (+9.5) and are second in 3-pointers made per game (16.1), making them a nightmare matchup for any team.

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Philadelphia’s Injury Concerns and Desperate Need for a Win

The 76ers’ season took a turn for the worse when Embiid went down with a knee injury. Without their dominant center, Philadelphia limped into the All-Star break, losing to Brooklyn 100-96 in their final game.

Key Injuries Before the Break:

• Joel Embiid (knee) – OUT since Jan. 30
• Tyrese Maxey (knee) – Missed last game
• Paul George (2 PTS vs. Nets) – Struggled under heavy defensive pressure

However, there’s good news for Sixers fans:

• Embiid was a full participant in practice Tuesday, and his return is possible.
• Maxey also practiced, putting him on track to play Thursday.

Coach Nick Nurse remains optimistic:
“Everybody looked like they had some days off and (were) fresh.”

Philadelphia needs its stars against Boston’s elite defense. Embiid’s presence alone could change the complexion of the game, as he dominated the Celtics on Christmas with 31 points and 15 rebounds.

Key Matchups to Watch

Prediction: Can the Sixers Bounce Back?

If Embiid plays, this could be a tightly contested playoff-like atmosphere. If he doesn’t, the Celtics have a clear advantage, given their depth and momentum.