76ers vs. Celtics Monday NBA playoffs Game 1, odds, props, trends: Big money on Philadelphia despite Joel Embiid's likely absence

The third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers opened as 6.5-point underdogs for tonight's Game 1 of their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series at No. 2 Boston, but with Sixers star and likely regular-season MVP Joel Embiid listed as doubtful, the Celtics are now -10.5 at BetMGM -- but not taking much action on the spread. No sportsbooks are listing player prop options for Embiid, so the three most-wagered props are all on Celtics. Click here for model picks.

As of this writing at BetMGM, just 23% of the bets and 29% of the money are on the Celtics against the spread. The total has dropped from an open of 214.5 to 213.5, with 82% of the bets and 76% of the money on the Over. Philly, priced on the moneyline at +400, is taking 73% of the bets and 45% of the money.

Embiid is doubtful with a right knee sprain despite the fact the was present at shootaround this morning. The All-Star big man sustained a sprained LCL in his right knee during Game 3 of Philadelphia's first-round sweep of the Nets and missed Game 4. Last year, Embiid suffered a concussion and orbital bone fracture during the first round against Toronto. He missed the first two games of the following series against Miami.

Embiid won his second straight scoring title in the regular season at 33.1 points per game and averaged 36.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game against Boston. The lone game of the four the Sixers won was at home on April 4, when Embiid went nuts with 52 points on 20-for-25 shooting to go with 13 rebounds. That performance probably clinched the MVP.  The 76ers are 12-5 outright and ATS this season without Embiid. If he can't go tonight, Paul Reed may start like he did in Game 4 vs. Brooklyn. Reed finished that game with a double-double of 10 points and 15 rebounds. There are no injury concerns for Boston.

The most-wagered player props are: Jayson Tatum Over 4.5 assists (-120), Jaylen Brown Over 24.5 points (-120), and Marcus Smart Over 11.5 points (-110). 

This will be the 22nd time the Celtics and 76ers will square off in a playoff series, the most between any two teams in NBA postseason history. The Celtics have won five straight playoff series in the rivalry, with the last loss coming in the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals. On the series line, Boston is -490 and Philadelphia is +390. 

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