Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Betting Pick & Prediction 12/23/24
At 7:00 ET, the Celtics (-451) will travel to Orlando to take on the Magic (+350) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The over/under line for this game is currently sitting at 214.5 points.
As of now, the Celtics are 9.5-point favorites and are 2nd in the Eastern Conference with a record of 22-6. On the other side, the Magic are 4th in the East and have a record of 18-12.
BOSTON CELTICS VS ORLANDO MAGIC BETTING PICK
The Pick: Boston Celtics -9.5
This game will be played at Kia Center at 7:00 ET on Monday, December 23rd.
WHY BET THE BOSTON CELTICS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 142-76 in favor of the Celtics.
- Our projections have Jayson Tatum finishing with 27 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
- From the field, we have the Celtics finishing with a field goal percentage of 47.7% and knocking down 20 threes.
Is a Win at Orlando Possible for the Celtics?
The Celtics improved to 22-6 on the season with a dominant 123-98 win over the Bulls on Saturday. Boston, who were -12 point favorites, not only won but also covered the spread. The game’s total points came in at 221, well below the O/U line of 239.5.
After a 28-28 tie in the 1st quarter, Boston went on a 10-0 run, turning a 51-47 lead into 57-51. They outscored the Bulls 33-26 in the 2nd quarter, 32-23 in the 3rd, and 30-21 in the 4th, pulling away for the win.
Jayson Tatum was the star of the Celtics’ 123-98 win over the Bulls, hitting 9 threes at a 60% clip and finishing with 43 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. He scored 18 points in the 3rd quarter and added 9 more in the 4th.
As a team, the Celtics shot 48% from the field, making 15 threes at 33.3%. Kristaps Porzingis contributed 22 points, including 8 in the 4th quarter, while Jaylen Brown added 19 points, 9 of which came in the opening quarter.
The Celtics put together a strong defensive performance on Saturday, holding the Bulls to just 98 points. Boston’s defense improved as the game went on, giving up 28 points in the 1st quarter, 26 in the 2nd, 23 in the 3rd, and just 21 in the 4th. Overall, they limited Chicago to 37% shooting from the field.
From beyond the arc, the Celtics held the Bulls to 34% shooting, with Chicago making 14 threes. The Bulls also went 10/11 from the free-throw line. Boston controlled the boards, allowing 10 offensive rebounds while collecting 42 defensive boards. They also added 8 steals and 4 blocks.
Can Orlando Pull Out the Win as Home Underdogs?
The Magic improved to 18-12 on the season with a 121-114 win over the Heat on Saturday. Orlando, favored by 2 points, covered the spread with the win. The game’s total of 235 points exceeded the pre-game line of 205 by 30 points.
Orlando’s comeback was remarkable, as they outscored Miami 37-8 in the 4th quarter. The Heat had gone on a 14-0 run earlier, but the Magic’s dominant final quarter sealed the win.
Cole Anthony’s 35-point performance, including 14 points in the 3rd quarter and 13 in the 4th, led the Magic to a win over the Heat. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 24 points, with 10 coming in the opening quarter.
Goga Bitadze was perfect from the field, finishing with 18 points and 13 rebounds. The Magic shot 49.4% overall, but struggled from deep, hitting just 29.7% of their threes, making 11 in total.
Despite a rough start defensively, giving up 40 points in the 1st quarter and 36 in the 2nd, the Magic tightened up in the 4th, allowing just 8 points to secure the win. Overall, they gave up 114 points on 48% shooting from the Heat.
Orlando did well defending the three, holding Miami to 28% from deep with just 9 made threes. They also recorded 9 blocks and 5 steals, while giving up 33 free throws on 42 attempts.