NBA Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic (23-19) look to snag another win over the Boston Celtics (28-12) when they meet on Friday, January 17 at 7:00 PM ET at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Current NBA betting odds reveal the Celtics are favored with a point spread at -12.5 (-110 MyBookie).
Orlando Magic Betting Preview
The Magic are 2-3 over their latest five battles and have had plenty of injuries to have to work around to find consistency. Their latest loss came at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks in a 122-93 blowout.
They started off on the wrong foot with a 34-16 in the first quarter. Other than that quarter, the game would have been much closer. Paolo Banchero led with 22 points on 40 percent shooting from the field.
Their offense put up 34.7 percent of their shots and just 26.1 percent of their threes. On defense, they allowed the Bucks to make 62.5 percent of their shots and 58.3 percent from beyond the arc.
The Magic are the worst team in the league (30th) offensively at averaging 104.5 points a game. Their defense, ironically, is ranked second second as they host teams to 103.7. This does not offer much room for error.

Boston Celtics Betting Preview
The Celtics are in the same boat as the Magic, going 2-3 over their last five games. Their most recent battle was a 110-97 finish against the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors had the lead for most of the game, but a 22-15 fourth quarter ruined their chances at winning. Payton Prichard led with 20 points and Jayson Tatum led with 10 rebounds, seven assists, and contributed 16 points.
Their offense took a hit this game, as they made 39.6 percent of their field goals and 34.8 percent from three point range. Their defense suffered as well, holding the Raptors to 50.6 percent shooting and 32.4 percent from deep.
The Celtics are averaging the fourth-best offense in the league at 117.5 points a game. On defense they rank sixth with holding opponents to 108.7 points a game. This is an appealing spread, especially if they have a healthy roster.
Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick
MyBookie has you set with the best Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics betting odds, showing the Celtics as 12.5-point favorites. Despite losing the first time around in a 108-104 outing, market predictions suggest the Celtics have an 82.1 percent chance of winning this time.
The Magic are beat up this time around and will likely have issues with their depth and consistency on both ends of the floor. This should pave the way for the Celtics, so look for them to cover the spread.
Final Pick: Boston Celtics -12.5 (-110)
