The rise of the Magic has been a big storyline in the Eastern Conference this season and it continues an upward trend since this time last year. Orlando was 5-20 in early December when they rattled off eight wins in nine games and finished the rest of the season 29-28.
Amid that eight-in-nine stretch last year, the Magic raised eyebrows by sweeping a duplex spot in Boston and have proven to be an odd matchup for the Eastern Conference leaders ever since.
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Magic vs. Celtics Betting Odds
| Magic | Celtics | |
| Spread | +6 | -5.5 |
| Moneyline | +190 | -218 |
| Total | o224 | u224.5 |
*lines accurate at the time of publication
Magic vs. Celtics Best Bets
Magic +6 (-110, FanDuel)
As mentioned above, Orlando just seems to be a team plays the Celtics well. Their size on the wing is different than what most teams can put up against Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and like Boston, their offense is a little unorthodox with how much is initiated by the wings.
That matters because a lot of the defensive structure of Boston is built around their guards being able to slow the initial attack of an offense. Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero have the size to be able to punish Derrick White or Jrue Holiday if Boston chooses those matchups.
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Boston is 12-0 at home SU and 8-4 ATS but are at a big rest disadvantage. The Celtics will be on the second night of a back to back and the Magic will have had three days off ahead of this game. While there was no travel after the game yesterday for Boston, four of five starters being in at 35 or more minutes could take its toll tonight.
The Magic play a different style from Boston but with similar-sized personnel and while their ceiling is not as high as the Celtics’ in this matchup, the floor and unorthodox nature of how they play gives them a better chance than most, making this line bettable.
Risk: 1.1 units on FanDuel to win 1 unit.
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