Celtics Open as 7.5‑Point Favorites Over 76ers in May 2 DFS Slate

*TL;DR: Boston is a 7.5‑point favorite at 106.5 implied points, while Philadelphia is projected at 99 points; Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Maxey headline the DFS pricing.

Context The May 2 NBA DFS slate pits the Boston Celtics against the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 pm ET. Bookmakers set the Celtics at –7.5 on a 205.5 game total, translating to 106.5 points for Boston and 99 points for Philadelphia. Both teams rank near the league median in pace (98 possessions per game), but Boston’s defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) is eight points better than Philadelphia’s.

Key Facts - Spread and totals: Celtics –7.5, total 205.5; implied team totals 106.5 (BOS) vs 99.0 (PHI). - DFS pricing: On DraftKings, Tyrese Maxey costs $10,000, while Jayson Tatum is $11,000. FanDuel lists Maxey at $13,400 and Tatum at $14,600. - Player production: Maxey averages 28.3 points, 6.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game, with a usage rate of 29% (the share of team plays used while on the floor). Tatum posts 21.8 points, 5.3 assists and 10.0 rebounds, shooting 29% of his attempts. - Supporting cast: Boston’s Jaylen Brown is priced at $10,200 (DK) and $12,200 (FD), while Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid costs $10,400 (DK) and $14,200 (FD). - Pace contrast: Boston runs at 30 possessions per 48 minutes, Philadelphia at 15, indicating a faster offensive tempo for the Celtics.

What It Means The spread suggests Boston should win by at least eight points, a margin supported by its superior defensive rating and higher offensive pace. DFS players may favor Tatum for his balanced stat line and relatively modest price gap to Maxey, especially on FanDuel where the premium on Maxey exceeds $3,000. Maxey’s higher usage rate and scoring average make him a viable upside pick, but his price reflects the 76ers’ lower implied total.

Betting and DFS strategists should watch the early minutes for pace enforcement. If Boston forces a fast tempo, the total could exceed 205.5, benefitting high‑volume players like Tatum and Brown. Conversely, a slower, defensive battle could keep the game under the total and elevate value in lower‑priced role players.

What to watch next: Late‑season injury updates and any shift in starting lineups before tipoff could reshape both the spread and DFS pricing for the Celtics‑76ers matchup.