Quick Recap:
• Record: 0-1
• Units: -1.1
• Best Win: —
• Tough Loss: Celtics -8.0 (-1.1u)
Bryan Bash wrapped up May 02, 2026, with an 0-1 record, dropping his lone selection of the day. The handicapper backed the Boston Celtics as home favorites, but Philadelphia’s historic comeback derailed the pick in decisive fashion.
76ers at Celtics
Bash selected the Celtics -8.0 at -110 odds, wagering one unit on Boston to cover the spread at home. The pick resulted in a Loss as Philadelphia defeated Boston 109-100, winning outright as underdogs and completing the NBA’s 14th comeback from a 3-1 series deficit to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The absence of Jayson Tatum proved insurmountable for Boston despite a valiant 33-point effort from Jaylen Brown, who added nine rebounds and three blocks. Joel Embiid dominated with 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, while Tyrese Maxey contributed 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the seventh-seeded 76ers. VJ Edgecombe chipped in 23 points and Paul George added 13 in the victory.
The quarter-by-quarter breakdown reveals where this cover slipped away for Bash. Philadelphia stormed out to a commanding 32-19 lead in the opening quarter, establishing an early 13-point cushion that set the tone for the evening. Boston fought back with a 31-23 second quarter to cut into the deficit, but the 76ers reasserted control with a 33-25 third quarter that effectively sealed both the game and the series. The Celtics’ fourth-quarter push (25-21) came too late to threaten either the final result or the spread.
The shooting disparity told much of the story. Philadelphia shot 47.6% from the field compared to Boston’s 39.8%, a significant eight-percentage-point gap that proved decisive. The 76ers also held a substantial advantage from beyond the arc, connecting at 39.3% while Boston managed just 26.5% from three-point range. Both teams grabbed 44 rebounds, but Philadelphia’s 25 assists compared to Boston’s 19 reflected superior ball movement and offensive execution. The 76ers’ 87.0% free throw shooting also edged Boston’s 81.3% mark, adding to their efficiency advantage across the board.
For Bash, the combination of Tatum’s absence, Philadelphia’s hot shooting, and the 76ers’ early dominance created an impossible situation for the Celtics to cover an eight-point spread. Boston never led after the opening minutes, and the double-digit first-quarter deficit set a tone they could never overcome despite Brown’s heroic individual effort.
Bryan Bash’s May 2nd slate ended in the red with an 0-1 mark. The Celtics’ inability to overcome Tatum’s absence against a motivated 76ers squad riding historic momentum proved costly, as Philadelphia’s balanced attack and superior shooting efficiency delivered both the outright upset and a comfortable margin that left the spread well out of reach.
