Celtics vs. Magic Pick
Will the host Orlando Magic end the seven-game win streak of the Boston Celtics tonight at 6PM ET?
Oddsmakers at sports book Bovada.lv have made the Celtics a 3.5-point favorite on the spread line. The over-under is set at 208 points.
Boston comes in with a 7-2 record after a 101-94 victory at the Thunder, its seventh straight victory. Orlando is 6-3 following a 105-83 home loss to the Bulls. The Celtics won all four meetings straight up last season and went 3-1 ATS. The over went 3-1.
Kyrie Irving scored 22 of his 25 points in the second half for the Celtics in the win at OKC. Al Horford contributed 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Jayson Tatum added 13 points and six boards. Boston was down 55-37 at halftime before storming back with a huge second half led by Irving.
Orlando was paced by Evan Fournier as he had 21 points and five rebounds in the loss to Chicago. Nikola Vucevic scored 14, while Aaron Gordon added 11 points and seven rebounds. The Magic were outscored 61-38 in the second half.
The Celtics are 15-7-1 ATS in the last 23 meetings, but only 1-5 ATS in the last six meetings in Orlando.
Orlando was so strong out of the gates this season that a home blowout loss to the lowly Bulls is inexplicable. The only possible reason is that they were caught looking ahead to the Celtics, which will be another measuring stick for one of the NBA’s biggest surprise teams. Winning streaks always come to an end and after mounting the huge comeback at the Thunder, Boston probably won’t have enough in the tank here. Take the home underdog.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: ORLANDO MAGIC +3.5