The Orlando Magic (32-38) meet the Boston Celtics (46-23) Sunday at 5 p.m. ET in the NBA’s Orlando bubble. We analyze the Magic-Celtics NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Magic vs. Celtics: Key injuries
Magic
- SF Jonathan Issac (knee) out
- PF Aaron Gordon (hamstring) out
- PG Michael Carter-Williams (foot) out
- SF Evan Fournier (illness) out
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Magic vs. Celtics: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Celtics 121, Magic 107
Moneyline (ML)
The Celtics (-400) delivered one of the biggest whoopings of the bubble in their last game when they beat the Toronto Raptors, 122-100. The Celtics still need a lot of help if they are going to run down the Raptors for the 2-seed.
The regular season trend of Orlando beating up on bad teams and losing to good teams has continued in the restart. After winning their first two games against sub-.500 teams, the Magic (+310) have lost three consecutive games, all to above-.500 teams.
Orlando has struggled against Boston this season, losing both games by double-digits.
PG Kemba Walker’s minute-restriction got raised to 32 minutes and now Boston is the healthiest they’ve been all season. Also, Orlando is banged up at forward, which is a position they’ll need to defend Boston’s All-Star-caliber wings.
Walker missed one of the previous Magic-Celtics meetings this season but in the other, he lit up Orlando for 37 points on 12-for-23 shooting from the field and 6-for-12 from three-point land.
There’s no reason for the Celtics to have a snoozer and should beat an inferior Magic squad. As a rule, I don’t bet favorites of -150 or lower, and I don’t think the payout is big enough to back the dog here. PASS ON THE MONEYLINE.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Orlando has trouble beating good teams and covering against them. The Magic +9 (-110) are 9-18-2 against the spread vs. winning teams this season and 15-21-2 as underdogs. The CELTICS -9 (-110) take care of business against bad teams as they are 18-13-2 ATS versus sub-.500 teams and 25-20-4 ATS as a favorite.
Also, the Magic’s best player—C Nikola Vučević—has been mostly ineffective against the Celtics in his career. Vučević has scored 20-plus points in only two of 23 career starts versus Boston. Vučević’s team was 7-18 in those games.
BET THE CELTICS -9 (-110). New to sports betting? A $110 on the Celtics -9 (-110) returns a $100 profit if Boston beats Orlando by 10 or more points.
Over/Under (O/U)
The total of 220.5 is the lowest of any game on Sunday’s NBA slate. I am going to take the bait and bet OVER 220.5 (-110).
Prior to their last two games, which went Under the total, the Over cashed in 15 straight Magic games. Boston’s last game went Under by only a half-point and they have an Over/Under record of 3-1-1 in the restart. Furthermore, the Celtics have a 26-22-1 O/U record as favorites and the Magic are 19-17-2 O/U.
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