The Orlando Magic (45-36) visit the Boston Celtics (55-26) Sunday for a 6 p.m. ET (ESPN) tip from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Let’s analyze NBA odds around the Magic vs. Celtics odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Celtics lead 2-1
Orlando has won 5 games in a row after dominating the Chicago Bulls 127-103 Friday, covering as a 15.5-point road favorite with the Under (245.5) hitting. F Franz Wagner led all scorers with 25 points, while F Paolo Banchero flirted with a triple-double (14 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists) in the blowout.
With a win Sunday and a Toronto Raptors loss against the Brooklyn Nets, the seventh-seeded Magic could move into sixth place in the Eastern Conference, securing a playoff berth and avoiding the Play-In Tournament.
Boston got back in the win column Friday with a 144-118 rout or the New Orleans Pelicans, covering as an 18-point home favorite with the Over (227.5) hitting. F Sam Hauser scored a team-high 24 points, while G Jaylen Brown added 23 in the win that clinched the Atlantic Division and secured the No. 2 seed in the East.
The Celtics took down the Magic 138-129, covering as 4.5-point home favorites with the Over (223.5) hitting in their last meeting Nov. 23. Orlando won the first meeting 123-110 at home Nov. 7 and the Celtics won the second meeting in Orlando 111-107 Nov. 9.
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Magic at Celtics odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:07 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Magic -750 (bet $750 to win $100) | Celtics +525 (bet $100 to win $525)
- Against the spread (ATS): Magic -12.5 (-115) | Celtics +12.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 221.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Magic at Celtics key injuries
Magic
- G Jett Howard (ankle) questionable
- F Jonathan Isaac (knee) questionable
Celtics
- G Jaylen Brown (achilles) out
- F Sam Hauser (back) doubtful
- G Payton Pritchard (foot) doubtful
- C Neemias Queta (toe) out
- F Jayson Tatum (achilles) out
- C Nikola Vucevic (finger) doubtful
- G Derrick White (knee) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Magic at Celtics picks and predictions
Prediction
Magic 124, Celtics 105
PASS.
There is no value on the Magic (-750) to take down a Celtics (+525) team that is resting a majority of their players.
BET MAGIC -12.5 (-115).
The Magic have won 5 games in a row and have covered in 4 of their last 5. They are playing to clinch a playoff berth and avoid the play-in, and will be sure to leave no doubt against the home team that is sitting out too many key players to compete. The Magic have covered in back-to-back games as 11.5-point or more favorites, while the Celtics have failed to cover in back-to-back games in which they entered as underdogs.
BET OVER 221.5 (-110).
The Magic will carry the load in this contest, but they are more than able. They have scored at least 123 points in 4 of their last 5 games and at least 115 in 7 of their last 10. They have allowed at least 107 points in 9 of their last 10.
The Celtics have scored 109 or more points in 8 of their last 10. While they will be without their top scorers, it presents an opportunity for role players to make a bigger impact, which will help hit the Over.
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