Someone's eight-game winning streak will come to an end Monday night in Philadelphia when the Celtics come to town, with Boston a 5.5-point favorite at WagerWeb.com.
Boston has won eight games in a row overall, by an average of 15.8 points. Three of those wins have come on the road, and Boston is a whopping 27-1 this year against teams with a losing record - of which Philly is one.
However, Philly has been a different club since the All-Star break.
The Sixers have won four in a row overall and eight straight at home by an average of 18.9 points since a 108-106 loss to Southeast Division-leading Orlando on Feb. 1. Philly is 12-3 since Feb. 5 and has moved into seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia has not won nine straight home games since opening the 2002-03 seasons with 10 straight wins there.
Boston's defense has tightened up recently, holding opponents to an average of 89.0 points in its last three road games after allowing 109.3 in the previous three. The Celtics have won three straight road games by an average of 22.7 points since dropping a season-high three straight on the road.
In its 113-103 win at Philadelphia on Dec. 5, Boston shot 52.6 percent from the field and made 10-of-22 3-pointers. In their 116-89 home win on Jan. 18, the Celtics shot 58.9 percent and connected on 14-of-22 shots from beyond the arc.
Paul Pierce has 41 points and 15 assists in two games against the Sixers this season, while Ray Allen has scored 35 points on 7-of-15 shooting from 3-point range in those contests.Boston has not won two games in Philadelphia in a season since 1995-96.
Andre Iguodala is averaging 22.5 points in his last four home games for Philly, and has scored 41 points against the Celtics this season. He is averaging 19.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game overall.
Rookie Thaddeus Young has been a key part of the Sixers' surge, as he put up a career high 22 points in a 119-97 romp over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.
And not one of the points came on a play called for him.
He's an opportunity scorer," Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "He rebounds and the ball and gets out in the open court for easy baskets."
The 19-year-old said it's all a matter of getting comfortable.
"I'm just doing things that I know how to do," he said. "I try to defensive rebound, offensive rebound and just get up and down the court."
In the last 10 games the Sixers have averaged 105.4 points while holding opponents to 97.2.
Meanwhile, with a victory tonight, Boston can reach the 50-win plateau in a season for the first time since 1991-92.
| ATS | Boston | Philadelphia |
| Record: | 49-12-0 (.803) | 30-33-0 (.476) |
| As Favorite: | 45-9-0 (.833) | 15-7-0 (.682) |
| As Underdog: | 4-3-0 (.571) | 15-26-0 (.366) |
| At Home: | 28-4-0 (.875) | 17-14-0 (.548) |
| On Road: | 21-8-0 (.724) | 13-19-0 (.406) |
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