Orlando Magic vs Boston Celtics Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/17/2025

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Friday, January 17, 2025

Venue:  TD Garden, Boston, MA

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Magic +11.5, Celtics -11.5; Over/Under:  211 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Magic +11.5, Celtics -11.5; Over/Under:  211 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Magic +11.5, Celtics -11.5; Over/Under:  210.5 points

Orlando Magic:  23-19 (1st place, Southeast Division)

Boston Celtics:  28-12 (1st place, Atlantic Division)

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Orlando Magic:  4-6 last 10

Boston Celtics:  6-4 last 10

The Magic are entering this game with a 23-19 record overall this season and they are 9-12 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Milwaukee Bucks. Paolo Banchero led the team in points in that game with 22 while Trevelin Queen was next on the team with 13 points. Cole Anthony led the team in assists in that game with 9 while Wendell Carter Jr. led the team in rebounds with 10. They were 34.7% from the field, 26.1% from 3-point range, and 71.4% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 104.5 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 103.7 PPG against them. The Magic have an ATS record of 22-19-1 this season and their O/U record is 17-25.

The Celtics are entering this game with a 28-12 record overall this season and they are 14-7 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Toronto Raptors. Payton Pritchard led the team in points in that game with 20 while Kristaps Porziņģis was next on the team with 18 points. Jayson Tatum led the team in assists in that game with 7 while Jayson Tatum led the team in rebounds with 10. They were 39.1% from the field, 34.8% from 3-point range, and 50% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 117.5 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 108.7 PPG against them. The Celtics have an ATS record of 15-24-1 this season and their O/U record is 17-23.

The current betting odds have the Celtics listed as an 11.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Celtics have looked great in their games this season with their 28-12 record overall which has them right near the top of the East with one of the best records in the entire NBA. They have looked great on their home court too with their 14-7 home record. Meanwhile, the Magic have looked good in their games this season with their 23-19 record overall which has them right near the top of the East. They haven't looked good in their road games though, going 9-12 in road games this season, and they are coming off a terrible road loss to the Bucks in their last one which they lost by double digits. Banchero was back in the lineup after missing weeks of the regular season, but it didn't help much as the Magic were never really in that game. Now they have to go on the road again off that loss, and they are facing the defending champions who are coming off their own embarrassing loss. The Celtics got blown out by the Raptors in their last one and the Raptors have been terrible this season so the Celtics are going to be looking to bounce back in a big way now that they are back at home. The Celtics have been much better all season, but they have also been the hotter team lately and this is the wrong time for the Magic to go up against them off that bad loss. The best way to place a bet here is on the Celtics to cover the spread in this game. 

Magic Celtics Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Friday, January 17, 2025 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Celtics 124 Magic 103.

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Orlando Magic: 26-19 ATS after scoring 100 points or less. 49-30 ATS versus poor pressure defensive teams - forcing 13 turnovers/game or less. 23-15 ATS in January games. 32-16 UNDER against Atlantic division opponents. 8-2 UNDER off a road blowout loss of 20 points or more. 14-8 UNDER when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 70%).

Boston Celtics: 18-24 ATS revenging a same season loss vs opponent. 6-12 ATS versus teams who average 9 or more steals/game on the season. 4-7 ATS versus poor offensive teams - scoring 108 points/game or less. 11-5 UNDER after scoring 100 points or less. 12-6 UNDER versus teams who average 9 or more steals/game on the season.

Orlando Magic:  G. Bitadze (C) Day To Day - Hip. J. Howard (SF) Day To Day - Ankle. J. Suggs (SG) Day To Day - Back. G. Harris (SG) Day To Day - Hamstring. F. Wagner (SF) Out - Oblique. M. Wagner (C) Out For Season - Knee.

Boston Celtics:  None.

“That wasn’t our standard. That wasn’t Orlando Magic basketball.” - Jamahl Mosley after his team’s loss against the Bucks in their game on Wednesday.

“Every season is different, our journey [also]. With that being said, if you take a look at the perspective, there are things that we’re doing well. Most important is winning the game and making the necessary plays even when things aren’t going well. Every season brings on different challenges. Every season brings on different opportunities and the situation we’re in right now, we’ve got to just fight through it.” - Joe Mazzulla on his team’s recent struggles.

PG Anthony Black

SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

SF Tristan da Silva

PF Paolo Banchero

C Wendell Carter Jr.

PG Derrick White

SG Jrue Holiday

SF Jaylen Brown

PF Jayson Tatum

C Kristaps Porzingis

PPG: P. Banchero (27.6)

APG: F. Wagner (5.7)

Reb/G: G. Bitadze (8.2)

PPG: J. Tatum (27.7)

APG: J. Tatum (5.4)

Reb/G: J. Tatum (9.4)

Coaches:

Orlando Magic: Jamahl Mosley (4th season)

Boston Celtics: Joe Mazzulla (3rd season)