Magic vs. Celtics Pick
Are the host Boston Celtics going to start a brand-new win streak tonight when they play the Orlando Magic at 7:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Celtics are an 8-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 208 points.
Orlando comes in with an 8-10 overall record and 9-8-1 ATS after a 124-118 loss at the Timberwolves, their sixth loss in a row. Boston is 16-3 overall and 15-3-1 ATS following a 104-98 loss at the Heat, which ended its 16-game win streak. The Celtics won the first meeting this season by a 104-88 score in Orlando on Nov. 5. Boston is 4-0 straight up and 3-1 ATS in four meetings since the start of last season. The over has gone 3-1.
The Magic were paced by Aaron Gordon with 26 points along with nine rebounds and three assists in the loss at Minneosta. Terrence Ross contributed 22 points and six rebounds. Evan Fournier added 19 points. Orlando trailed 106-80 through three quarters before outscoring the hosts 38-18 in the fourth quarter to make it close.
Kyrie Irving paced the Celtics with 23 points and three steals in the loss at Miami. Jayson Tatum contributed 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Jaylen Brown added 14 points and two steals. Marcus Morris added 14 points and four rebounds off the bench. Boston trailed 79-63 through three quarters.
Orlando is 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings overall and 11-29-1 in the last 41 meetings in Boston.
The Celtics, according to head coach Brad Stevens, are not as good as their 16-game winning streak. But they are still an elite team in the Eastern Conference, much better than their opposition in this game. Orlando has struggled the last few weeks after racing out of the gates to start the season. Boston is in the position of maybe having a letdown after having the win streak come to an end. Putting so much emphasis into each game can be exhausting. We’ll trust the Magic can find the magic they had earlier in the season and cover the spread in this one.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: ORLANDO MAGIC +8
