The good news is that several Boston Celtics will return to action tonight against the Orlando Magic as the two teams face each other at at TD Garden this Friday evening.
The team listed Jaylen Brown, Daniel Theis, Semi Ojeleye and Javonte Green all as available for tonight’s contest. The bad news is of course that the Celtics are still a long way from being at full strength, though it the Magic will share the same concerns given a number of their key players are either out injured or working their way through the league’s health and safety protocols as well.
Magic vs. Celtics: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks https://t.co/7gBnR6cB9w
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) January 15, 2021
As of this writing, that leaves Orlando with just 10 available players, and Boston with the same — not quite as bad as some of the eyebrow-raisers as have been taking place elsewhere in the league but certainly far from optimal.
The Celtics will be especially thin in the frontcourt with just Theis, Ojeleye and two-way center Tacko Fall available, but the Magic are equally as thin with just bigs Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Khem Birch available.
Magic vs. Celtics: How to watch, TV channel, start time (January 15th) https://t.co/lD5eOcqEy2
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) January 15, 2021
Boston is heavily favored despite their dinged-up rotation, and for a team at the top of the Eastern Conference standings facing one squarely in the middle of the pack down multiple key players, that makes sense.
Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET, and you can check out guides to watching the game and betting on it for additional information on what should be a likely Celtics home win — so long as the team shows up to play.
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