Celtics vs. 76ers: Game 3 TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

After two games decided by only a point, the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers are appropriately tied at one game a piece going into Wednesday's Game 3.

Beset by a number of nagging injuries, Doc Rivers' club has yet to resemble the dominant club that tore through the Eastern Conference after the All-Star break. Instead, this roster's age and vulnerability to injury have caught up to the Celtics with a vengeance and given the eight-seeded 76ers a chance to do something few fans—in Philly or elsewhere—even remotely expected.

Doug Collins' youthful squad might not be here were it not for catastrophic injuries to Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah in the first round, but they've certainly made the most of their opportunities. Philadelphia now holds home-court advantage against the Celtics after stealing Game 2 in Boston.

They also have some much-needed confidence.

Despite losing Game 1 against Boston, the 76ers led for much of the way and looked to be the hungrier team. They carried that momentum into Game 2 and executed better in the fourth quarter, proving they could hold up against the pressure of their veteran counterparts.

Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia

When: Wednesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. ET

Watch: TNT

Live Stream: None

Listen: WEEI 850 AM (Boston) and WPEN 97.5 FM (Philadelphia)

Betting Line: Philadelphia 76ers (-2), according to Top Bet

76ers' Key Injuries (according to Yahoo! Sports):

Will Play: Thaddeus Young (sprained right ankle)

Celtics' Key Injuries (According to NESN and Yahoo! Sports):

Will Play: Ray Allen (bone spurs in right ankle)

Will Play: Paul Pierce (sprained MCL)

Will Play: Avery Bradley (sore rotator cuff)

Will Play: Mickael Pietrus (sore hamstring)

Out: Chris Wilcox (aortic abnormality)

Out: Jeff Green (aortic aneurysm)

What They're Saying

The real truth is that Paul Pierce hasn't been playing like himself lately, and it might just have something to do with the fact that he's been playing through a sprained MCL.

Pierce has been dealing with the injury since midway through Boston's first round against the Atlanta Hawks. That's when head coach Doc Rivers conceded that there was really no way to know what to expect from the star small forward, according to ESPN Boston's Chris Forsberg:

"

Honestly, it's not the best situation, but he's going to play. We just gotta figure out what he can do on the floor. It's tough. He's a scorer, and I think Paul can score in any situation, but for us, we just have to figure out what the most effective way for him to be effective. And the only way we're going to know that is with the game being played. So we'll see.

"

Two games into the second round, we've seen all we need to see. Pierce has made just five of his 20 field goal attempts through his first two games against the 76ers. Andre Iguodala's first-rate perimeter defense has sure played its part, but so too has Pierce's knee.

While the Celtics aren't making many excuses, the 76ers Elton Brand said he could tell Pierce was struggling on account of the injured knee (via WEEI's Ben Rohrbach):

"When you’re hurting, it takes away some of your aggressiveness,” said Brand, whose 2007 knee injury was the first in a long line of Achilles, shoulder, hand and neck problems throughout his career. “You don’t think about it, but subconsciously it takes away your movement and your thrust.

Boston doesn't have nearly enough depth on the wing to replace Pierce's production, even if that production has tapered off significantly. It will be harder for Pierce to find his shot getting to the free-throw line, but Pierce remains an indispensable asset down the stretch of close games. 

Most Important Player to Watch: Kevin Garnett

Garnett has continued to be a model of consistency in these playoffs—he's averaging 19.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in the postseason and become the envy of 35-year-old athletes everywhere.

Still, Garnett has struggled at times to get open shots, thanks in large part to defenders helping and doubling when he's in the post. The Celtics are 2-2 in their last four games, and KG's contributions appear have played a decisive role in Boston's fate.

He scored 28 and 29 in the two wins but just 16 and 15 in the losses. The differences haven't had a thing to do with efficiency, either—his lower-scoring outings still came at a 58 percent clip from the field. Instead, the difference has been shot attempts. KG took just 12 shots in each of the losses while exploding for 19 and 20 attempts in the two wins.

With Paul Pierce only sporadically effective, much of the Celtics' offensive burden falls on Garnett. He won't be able to do much about that though if his team's unable to get him a few more good looks at the basket.

Key Matchup: Rajon Rondo vs. Jrue Holiday

The point guard matchup between Rondo and Jrue Holiday remains this series' most pivotal dynamic. Holiday hit an absolutely vital three-pointer late in the fourth quarter of Game 2, but Rondo has continued to keep Boston's offense running.

Rondo has yet to catch fire from the field, but he's totaled 30 assists, 19 rebounds and six steals in his first two games against Philadelphia. Holiday has done a good job defensively on Rondo, but Boston's 16-year-old star point guard has proven time and again that he can impact a game decisively in any number of ways.

Meanwhile, Doug Collins has to hope that Holiday's much-improved performance in Game 2 is a sign that he's starting to turn the corner. Prior to scoring 18 points in one of his best shooting outings yet in these playoffs, Holiday suffered through four consecutive sub-par shooting nights—a scary sign given his importance to the 76ers' sometimes stagnant offense.

Game 3 Prediction: Philadelphia 87, Boston 84