Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers Preview and Prediction - Oct. 31 | 2025 NBA Emirates Cup

Perennial playoff rivals the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers will meet for the first time in the 2025 NBA Emirates Cup on Friday.

The Celtics haven’t looked like their usual dominant selves from past seasons, when they were regular-season and playoff powerhouses. They dismantled much of their 2024 championship-winning core after Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles injury.

Meanwhile, the 76ers have been one of the hottest teams in the league, standing as one of only two undefeated squads in the East with a 4-0 record.

Here’s a preview of Friday’s Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers game, scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET at XFinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

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Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers Preview and Odds

Moneyline: Celtics (+110) vs 76ers (-130)

Spread: Celtics +1.5 (-105) vs 76ers -1.5 (-115)

Total (O/U): Celtics o234.5 (-110) vs 76ers u234.5 (-110)

Editor's note: The odds could change close to the game. The odds listed were as per available information at the time of writing.

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Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers preview

The Celtics’ overall potential dipped after their offseason roster shake-up and Tatum’s injury, but they’ve recently shown signs of life. After dropping their first three games, Boston has bounced back with two straight wins, including a dominant 20-point rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jaylen Brown has been on fire, averaging 26.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. Derrick White, Anfernee Simons, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser have also been reliable contributors, each averaging double figures.

Despite their 2-3 record, the Celtics rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive ratings. While they’re second-worst in assists, they compensate by launching a league-high 48.4 3-point attempts per game, hitting 33.1% of them.

Meanwhile, the 76ers, led not by Joel Embiid and Paul George but by their explosive backcourt duo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, have been rolling. Philadelphia has started 4-0, including a one-point victory over Boston in the season opener.

Their other wins came against the Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards, teams that have combined for a 5-11 record as of Thursday.

Maxey has been scorching hot with 37.5 points per game, while Edgecombe adds 22.3 points, providing stability while Embiid continues to recover and George remains sidelined.

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Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers predicted starting lineups

Celtics

G - Payton Pritchard | G - Derrick White | F - Jaylen Brown | F - Josh Minott | C - Nemias Queta

76ers

G - Tyrese Maxey | G - VJ Edgecombe | F - Kelly Oubre Jr. | F - Justin Edwards | C - Joel Embiid

Editor's note: These are the predicted lineups and could change based on the availability of players.

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Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers betting tips

• Tyrese Maxey O/U 29.5 points – Take the under.
• Jaylen Brown O/U 26.5 points – Take the over.
• Derrick White O/U 19.5 points – Take the over.
• Joel Embiid O/U 18.5 points – Take the over.

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Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers prediction

While the 76ers have been red-hot, this matchup has the makings of an upset. Expect the Celtics to ride their recent momentum, win their third straight, and avenge their season-opening loss. With higher stakes in the NBA Cup, Boston should find a way to pull it off.

Our prediction: Celtics win by 7.

Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro