Magic vs Celtics Predictions

**SBR Andy** · 04-20-25, 10:05 AM

Magic vs Celtics Game 1 prediction from SBR's Isaiah Sirois:

Magic +14 (-110 DraftKings)

"Although the data suggests this Celtics team is less efficient than last year’s, the books don’t expect a close game. Sure, Orlando’s offense has seriously struggled with efficiency - the Magic are a dreadful 21st in offensive efficiency since the All-Star break (112.7) - but 3-point shooting variance could sink Boston. The Orlando defense’s success at limiting looks like the ones that Boston loves to take makes this all the more important.

The Celtics should probably not be getting a whopping 14 points in this spot. Both sides of this matchup are playing at a bottom-two pace since the break, so there won’t be many extra possessions for the Celtics to build a big lead. The Celtics are just 38-43-1 against the spread this year and 18-23 against the spread as a home favorite."

Under 206 (-112 FanDuel)

"The books are giving Boston an implied total of 110, a number they reached in just one of their games against Orlando. The combination of a slow pace and Orlando’s excellent perimeter defense makes the under a buy for me. While I’m more sympathetic to backing Boston’s team total Under 110.5 for -115 at DraftKings, the 206 has some value, too."

**SBR Andy** · 04-21-25, 08:02 AM

The Celtics dominate the second half of Game 1, winning 103-86.

Updated series odds via DraftKings: Celtics -8000 / Magic +2200

**SBR Andy** · 2025-04-23T19:17:08+00:00

Magic vs Celtics Game 2 prediction from SBR's Brenden Schaeffer:

Under 197.5 (-110 FanDuel)

"The Celtics have been turning the screws to opposing offenses in their gear-up for the postseason, and it carried into Game 1 as Boston held Orlando to 86 points behind its array of elite defenders.

Because the Celtics and Magic both play at one of the slowest paces in the NBA, there wasn’t a ton of upward mobility for Boston’s scoring output in the matchup, which totaled just 189 points.

Though we were surprised by the extent to which scoring outputs were muted in the opener, it could be a window into the style of play we should come to expect when these defensive-minded teams get together for these types of meaningful games. Orlando and Boston allow the two fewest per-game scoring totals to their respective opponents across the NBA this season.

Orlando actually allows a lower opposing scoring total in its road games than it does at home, so we see a lane for a similar outcome to Sunday in Game 2 between two teams who are tied for the fewest offensive possessions per game in the league (99.6)."

Wendell Carter Jr. Under 8.5 rebounds (-125 DraftKings)

"Boston ran a touch below its season shooting percentage in Game 1 - perhaps allowing for some additional rebounding chances for Carter, who cleaned up with 13 boards.

That’s far-and-away the best rebounding output that Carter has enjoyed in his matchups against the Celtics this season. In three other appearances against Boston, he finished with 3, 9, and 7 rebounds.

Naturally, limited possessions in these games should lead to decreased rebounding possibilities. Leading up to Game 1, Carter had fallen short of this mark in eight of his last nine games, suggesting his outlier effort in Game 1 has inflated the line for today's game."