Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Quick read:

The absence of Joel Embiid looms large for the 76ers, but that only means the rest of Philadelphia's roster has to step up offensively, which they have shown capable of doing in spurts. Meanwhile, the Celtics are firing on all cylinders with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading a balanced attack that thrives in transition and half-court sets alike.

Boston’s ability to score in bunches combined with Philadelphia’s need to compensate for Embiid’s absence should lead to a back-and-forth affair. Both teams have been pushing a faster tempo, and with neither side able to slow down the other, defenses will be challenged to keep pace.

Adding to the scoring potential, the Celtics are favored by 7.5 points, which often incentivizes the underdog 76ers to stay aggressive offensively. Given the stakes of a pivotal Game 3 in a tied series, expect both squads to pour on the points in a high-octane, no-holds-barred style that surpasses the 215.5 total easily.