The 29-14 Boston Celtics travel to Amway Center to face the 21-24 Orlando Magic at 7pm ET this Friday, January 24th as the Celtics look to extend their winning streak to three games.
The Magic, currently in seventh place in the East, have won five of their last 10 games and lost their last contest, against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 22.
Boston has been righting a ship that was until recently quite shaky, having won just four of their last 10 matches and two in a row, both blowouts against quality opponents.
Part of the Celtics’ issues have been the intense calendar of games in January and accompanying injuries, neither of which is letting up much.
TONIGHT ☘ Celtics vs @OrlandoMagic
📍 @AmwayCenter
🕢 7:00PM ET
📺 @NBCSBoston
🎙@985TheSportsHub#BleedGreen pic.twitter.com/o58KzKMeUC— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 24, 2020
Regarding health, Boston will continue to be without reserve center Robert Williams III (hip), and will see swingman Jayson Tatum (groin) and big man Enes Kanter (knee contusion) join in him taking the game off to heal.
Head coach Brad Stevens reporting the Turkish big man is likely to miss the team’s next game as well.
Wing Jaylen Brown (ankle) is questionable to play, but traveled with the team, and two way center Tacko Fall has been recalled to the team to help cover for the ailing frontcourt rotation in his old collegiate stomping ground.
Orlando will be without center Jonathan Isaac, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and point guard D.J. Augustin, all suffering from various knee issues.
The Celtics should have a talent advantage even if both Jays sit with starters Gordon Hayward, Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker available, but the Magic will easily win if the team mails in a game as they had for much of January.
Even still, Boston ought to come away with the win if it shows up ready to play, which is shown by the average +1 spread offered by most online sportsbooks.
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