Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Prediction
| Game Time | 7:00 pm EST |
| Boston Celtics Line | -9.5 |
| Orlando Magic Line | +9.5 |
| Total | 216 |
| TV: | NBA TV |
Below is a detailed analysis for Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic game.
PREGAME WARM-UP:
In this high caliber Eastern battle, two of the top-4 squads currently in the conference are clashing, when the Orlando Magic are hosting the Boston Celtics. The Magic are still playing without their two best players, and are coming off a win that snapped their previous three-game losing skid. Orlando is playing their fourth consecutive home game, where they have been playing their best basketball of the season. The Celtics are coming off back-to-back games against the Bulls, and after a shocking home defeat on Thursday, they bounce back on the road on Saturday.
Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Prediction
Orlando Magic Injury Report: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac and Garry Harris are out.
Boston Celtics Injury Report: Sam Hauser is day-to-day.
Orlando Magic Form and Trends
The Magic have a 18-12 record this season and are sitting on the 4th place of the East. The Magic are 17-12-1 against the spread and 14-16 in over/under. Orlando has a 11-2 home record, and are 10-2-1 against the spread, with a +10.5-point differential. The Magic are 1-3 in their last 4 games but 3-1-1 against the spread in their last 5.
The Magic are coming off a 121-114 win over Miami, as they made a huge comeback in the fourth quarter with a 37-8 score in that span, to come back and win the game. Cole Anthony led all scorers off Orlando’s bench with 35 points, adding 8 rebounds and a team-high 9 assists.
Paolo Banchero leads the Magic both in scoring with 29 points, and in assists made with 5.6, adding 8.8 rebounds per game. Franz Wagner adds 24.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game but both are out with injuries.
Boston Celtics Recent Form and Trends
The Celtics have a 22-6 record this season and are sitting on the second place of the East. Boston is 11-17 against the spread and 12-15-1 in over/under. The Celtics have a 11-2 road record but are just 6-7 against the spread, with a +12.7-point differential. Boston is 6-2 in their last 8 games, but just 3-7 against the spread in their last 10. Under is 7-2 in their last 9 games.
Boston is coming off a 123-98 win in Chicago, as they held the Bulls into just 38% shooting from the field. Jason Tatum had a monster game with 43 points with 9 made threes, adding game-highs both in rebounding with 15, and in assists made, with 10.
Tatum leads Boston in scoring this season, with an average of 28.8 points, adding 9.3 rebounds and a team-high 5.7 assists. Jaylen Brown adds 23.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists.
Statistical Breakdown
Offensively, the Magic average 107.3 points per game, which is just 26th in the league. They shoot 45.2% from the field (23rd) and are dead last in 3-point percentage, with 30.8%. Defensively, they are the second-best team in the NBA, allowing 103.9 points per game.
Offensively, the Celtics are third-best in the NBA with 119.6 points per game. They shoot 45.7% from the field (19th) and 36.6% from beyond the arc (15th). Defensively, they allow 109.6 points per game, which is 7th in the league.
The Celtics lead the Magic 2-1 wins in their three meetings this season, with the Magic having won their only meeting in Orlando by 113-96. The Magic are 3-0 against the spread in their last 3 meetings in Orlando, and under is 5-1 in their last 6 overall meetings.
Prediction
In this Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Prediction, the Celtics are coming as -9.5 road favorites. The Celtics are rightfully favored as they are the better team and are facing a ravaged by injuries Magic squad, but the Celtics have been bad in covering spread, as they are constantly overvalued by the books. Boston is the 5th-worst covering team in the whole NBA, and are up against the best covering team at home, in the Orlando Magic. The Magic are also playing their fourth straight home game, while the Celtics are playing their second straight game on the road. I expect the Magic to keep this somewhat close, so take the Orlando Magic and the plus points at home. Nick’s Pick: Orlando Magic +9.5
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