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The Boston Celtics (12-3) will face off against the Orlando Magic (10-5) in the NBA In-Season Tournament's group stage on Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV). Let's examine the odds from FanDuel Sportsbook for the Celtics vs. Magic matchup and provide insights into our expert NBA predictions.
In their recent home game, the Magic secured a 124-119 victory against the Denver Nuggets as 3-point underdogs. With a 12-3 record against the spread (ATS) for the season and a strong 5-1 ATS performance at home, Orlando is displaying consistency. Paolo Banchero, a former No. 1 overall pick, leads the team, averaging 19.4 points per game.
The Celtics, on the other hand, clinched a 119-116 win against the Milwaukee Bucks at home but fell short of covering as 6-point favorites. Boston holds a 6-7-2 ATS record for the season and struggles more on the road with a 2-5-2 ATS performance. Moreover, they've failed to cover in their last 4 consecutive games. Jayson Tatum is their leading player, averaging 27.9 points per game.
Recent statistics show that the Celtics have struggled, going 1-3 ATS in their last 4 road games and 0-4 ATS in their overall recent games. Conversely, the Magic have excelled, going 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games.
Both teams rank highly in defensive rating, with the Celtics at 2nd and the Magic at 3rd, indicating a potentially close, low-scoring game. Notably, the Magic have covered in their last 3 home games, facing formidable opponents such as Denver and Milwaukee. The Celtics enter their game against the Magic as favorites by 5.5 points, with an expected combined score of 224 points.
In their recent match against the Bucks, the Celtics won 119-116, falling short of the expected total points. Jaylen Brown led with 26 points. Meanwhile, the Magic triumphed over the Nuggets 124-119, with Franz Wagner scoring 27 points. No specific odds were set, but the total points surpassed the predicted score.
Boston holds a 6-7-2 record against the spread this season and is 5-5-1 when favored by 5.5 points or more. Their games have gone over the total score in seven out of 15 instances. The Celtics typically score 9.8 more points per game (117.3) compared to the Magic's defensive average (107.5).
When Boston scores above 107.5 points, they're 6-5-2 against the spread and 11-2 overall. On the other hand, Orlando has played 15 games, winning 12 against the spread. However, when considered underdogs by 5.5 points or more, they haven't covered the spread. Their games have exceeded the point total six times out of 15. The Magic score an average of 111.5 points per game, slightly higher than the 107.2 points typically allowed by the Celtics.
The Celtics' recent performance showcases a 4-6 record against the spread and a 7-3 overall result in the last 10 games. They surpassed the expected total points thrice in these recent games, averaging 226.3 points, slightly more than the predicted 224 points for this matchup.
Comparatively, the Celtics' recent scoring in the last 10 games is slightly lower than their season average. Meanwhile, the Magic are performing well with an 8-2 record against the spread and a 7-3 overall result in their last 10 games. They surpassed the predicted total points five times in these games. Their average score in these recent games is slightly below the projected 224 points. Over the last 10 games, the Magic are scoring 1.9 more points per game than their season average of 111.5 points.
