The Orlando Magic (9-20) battle the Boston Celtics (22-7) at TD Garden Friday. Tip from Boston is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Magic vs. Celtics odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Magic have covered 5 straight games and took down the Atlanta Hawks 135-124 at home Wednesday as 2.5-point underdogs. Orlando is 14-14-1 against the spread (ATS) this season but is just 1-11 straight up on the road. It is led by No.1 overall pick F Paolo Banchero, who is averaging 21.7 points per game.
The Eastern Conference-leading Celtics pushed as 4-point favorites in a 122-118 win at the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday. Boston is 17-11-1 ATS this season and is 11-2 straight up at home. It is just 0-2-1 ATS in its last 3 games, 2 of which it lost straight up. The Celtics are led by MVP candidate F Jayson Tatum, who is averaging 30.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
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Magic at Celtics odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:15 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Magic +550 (bet $100 to win $550) | Celtics -800 (bet $800 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Magic +12.5 (-115) | Celtics -12.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 226.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Magic at Celtics key injuries
Magic
- C Wendell Carter Jr. (plantar fascia) out
- G Jalen Suggs (ankle) out
Celtics
- C Al Horford (personal) questionable
- C Robert Williams III (knee) questionable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Magic at Celtics picks and predictions
Prediction
Celtics 118, Magic 105
Moneyline
PASS.
There’s just no value here either way.
Against the spread
BET CELTICS -12.5 (-105).
The Celtics are 2-1 ATS this season with a double-digit spread, and they are 9-4 ATS at home this season as well.
Boston has the best offensive rating and the 8th-best defensive rating. With their starting center likely to make a return to the lineup, despite being set to be on a minutes restriction, their defense should get stronger.
The Magic are one of the most-injured teams in the league, and with Suggs and Carter Jr. both out, they’ll rely more on Banchero who will likely be guarded by Tatum or F Jaylen Brown, both quality on-ball defenders.
The Magic are just 3-8-1 ATS on the road this season. Considering it all, back CELTICS -12.5 (-105).
Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 226.5 (-110).
The Celtics have gone Under in 5 of their last 6 games and only went Over against the Lakers due to overtime.
With the potential return of Williams, who is arguably the best rim protector in the NBA, expect the Magic to struggle offensively. Orlando has gone Under in 2 of its last 3 games as well.
Couple the trends and the return of Williams, and the UNDER 227.5 (-105) is the better side here.
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