Winning 10 straight would be an excellent accomplished in a season filled with highs for Boston. That said, defensive stalwart Marcus Smart hurt himself on Saturday against the Raptors and will be out, as will Malcolm Brogdon, albeit for personal reasons.

Even so, Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics are pinned as -8 favourites on the NBA odds. The over-under is established at 230.

Celtics vs. Magic NBA Betting Odds

Orlando knows a thing or two about playing Boston. In mid-December Jamahl Mosley’s side spent a weekend at TD Garden and conjured up a brilliant spell against their foes, claiming both games, 117-109 and 95-92. It was an impressive sweep of a team that’s fighting for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. The two-game set also awarded the Magic with a 2-1 lead in the season series. Tonight’s tussle marks their final regular season encounter on the schedule.

The Magic are not a promising prospect with respect to the moneyline given their 17-29 win-loss tally. Despite their struggles, the Floridian side has equipped itself with a more than respectable 25-18-2 record ATS. Prior to the failure against the Wizards, they had handled the spread in four straight games. Of note: they’ve covered all three games with the Celtics this season, including the defeat.

Being a conference-leading side doesn’t equate to having a world-beater spread record. At 25-21-1, Boston wins a high number of tilts without covering. They exorcised demons last week with a thrilling overtime win against the Warriors, but it wasn’t enough to cover. Saturday night featured a great contest against Toronto, which again, despite the win, wasn’t good enough. Furthermore, despite being one of the highest-scoring teams in the NBA, the Under has cashed in four out of the last five games.

Boston Celtics

The Raptors have a knack for playing the Celtics tight. Fans of both sides remember the 2020 bubble series that went the distance, with Boston narrowly winning 4-3. A good game was expected at Rogers Arena Saturday night, to say nothing of Boston opting to rest Jayson Tatum, who had been playing out of his mind lately.

While the injury to Marcus Smart put a sour note on the evening, the moxie on display was encouraging. Grant Williams had himself a night with 25 points and injected considerable spark by coming off the bench. To many peoples’ surprise, it was Payton Pritchard, also off the bench, who hit some of the more critical shots of the contest, draining a few essential threes in the final quarter. Al Horford’s seven rebounds also proved critical down the stretch, as did his game-clinching steal for the 106-104 win.

Orlando Magic

Consistency is key in any sport, be it individual or team-based. There probably isn’t a spell to gift themselves with it, so the Magic will have to work hard and earn it. The aforementioned sweep of Boston in December didn’t give them much momentum, nor did an impressive 123-100 win over the Pelicans on Friday.

24 hours later the Washington Wizards awaited them in D.C., a contest that ended 138-118 in favour of the hosts. The visitors looked like a tired team that had travelled overnight after investing considerable effort in vanquishing a strong foe the day before. Three-point shooting kept them in the game for stretches, but they were largely overmatched by Washington, who fired a magical 52.9 per cent from beyond the arc and 53.7 from the floor overall. Scoring is a problem, or lack of it, rather. Orlando has the 27^th-ranked offence in the NBA.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Celtics vs. Magic?

• Regular Season

Celtics Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 29.97
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.43
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.91
FG%	Robert Williams III 75
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.52
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.18

ORL

Points	Paolo Banchero 19.98
Assists	Markelle Fultz 5.67
Rebounds	Wendell Carter Jr. 8.88
FG%	Bol Bol 56.6
Steals	Markelle Fultz 1.53
Blocks	Bol Bol 1.22

• Regular Season

Magic Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 29.97
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.43
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.91
FG%	Robert Williams III 75
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.52
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.18

ORL

Points	Paolo Banchero 19.98
Assists	Markelle Fultz 5.67
Rebounds	Wendell Carter Jr. 8.88
FG%	Bol Bol 56.6
Steals	Markelle Fultz 1.53
Blocks	Bol Bol 1.22

Injuries

Boston

Al Horford (C)

Prob Tues Back - 18 / 03 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Prob Tues Hip - 18 / 03 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Ques Fri Illness - 17 / 03 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Ques Sat Achilles - 17 / 03 / 23

Al Horford (C)

Prob Wed Back - 06 / 03 / 23

Payton Pritchard (PG)

Out indefinitely Heel - 06 / 03 / 23

Robert Williams III (C)

Prob Tues Hamstring - 03 / 03 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Ques Sun Ankle - 03 / 03 / 23

Mike Muscala (PF)

Ques Wed Knee - 28 / 02 / 23

Derrick White (PG)

Prob Mon Ankle - 26 / 02 / 23

Orlando

Jalen Suggs (SG)

Out Tues Concussion - 17 / 03 / 23

Gary Harris (SG)

Ques Thurs Hip - 15 / 03 / 23

Wendell Carter Jr. (C)

Prob Sat Hip - 05 / 03 / 23

Admiral Schofield (PF)

Prob Thurs Concussion - 05 / 03 / 23

Gary Harris (SG)

Prob Thurs Thigh - 04 / 03 / 23

Jonathan Isaac (PF)

out for season Groin - 26 / 02 / 23

Jonathan Isaac (PF)

Out Sat Rest - 25 / 02 / 23

Jonathan Isaac (PF)

Prob Thurs Knee - 14 / 02 / 23

Cole Anthony (PG)

Prob Thurs Wrist - 13 / 02 / 23

Gary Harris (SG)

Prob Sat Thigh - 08 / 02 / 23

Injuries

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Al Horford (C)	Prob Tues	Back - 18 / 03 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Horford missed the last contest with low back stiffness, but it is anticipated that he will play against the Kings on Tuesday.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Prob Tues	Hip - 18 / 03 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Smart sat out the last game with a left hip contusion, but it is projected that he will be active Tuesday versus the Kings.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Ques Fri	Illness - 17 / 03 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Smart is dealing with an illness, and it remains to be seen whether he will suit up Friday against the Trail Blazers.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Ques Sat	Achilles - 17 / 03 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Brogdon sat out the last game with right Achilles soreness, and it is undetermined if he will suit up Saturday against the Jazz.
Al Horford (C)	Prob Wed	Back - 06 / 03 / 23	3-2	3-2	+ -
Horford was held out of the previous contest due to lower-back stiffness, but he is expected to face the Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
Payton Pritchard (PG)	Out indefinitely	Heel - 06 / 03 / 23	3-2	3-2	+ -
Pritchard is dealing with a left heel injury, and there is no timetable for his return.
Robert Williams III (C)	Prob Tues	Hamstring - 03 / 03 / 23	3-3	4-2	+ -
Williams III has been sidelined due to a left hamstring strain, but he is expected to return against the Kings on Tuesday.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 03 / 03 / 23	3-3	4-2	+ -
Brogdon was held out of the previous contest due to right ankle soreness, and it is uncertain if he will face the Knicks on Sunday.
Mike Muscala (PF)	Ques Wed	Knee - 28 / 02 / 23	4-4	4-4	+ -
Muscala is nursing right knee tendinopathy, leaving his status for Wednesday's clash with the Cavaliers up in the air.
Derrick White (PG)	Prob Mon	Ankle - 26 / 02 / 23	4-5	5-4	+ -
White is hampered by a right ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will play against the Knicks on Monday.

Orlando

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jalen Suggs (SG)	Out Tues	Concussion - 17 / 03 / 23	0-0	0-0	+ -
Suggs has missed the previous two games while going through concussion protocol, and he will not be available Tuesday versus the Wizards.
Gary Harris (SG)	Ques Thurs	Hip - 15 / 03 / 23	0-0	0-0	+ -
Harris is dealing with right hip flexor soreness, leaving his status for Thursday's contest against the Suns up in the air.
Wendell Carter Jr. (C)	Prob Sat	Hip - 05 / 03 / 23	2-3	4-1	+ -
Carter Jr. has been held out of the last three games due to left hip soreness, but he is expected to take part in Saturday's clash with the Heat.
Admiral Schofield (PF)	Prob Thurs	Concussion - 05 / 03 / 23	2-3	4-1	+ -
Schofield missed the previous contest with a concussion, but it is not expected to impact his status against the Jazz on Thursday.
Gary Harris (SG)	Prob Thurs	Thigh - 04 / 03 / 23	2-3	4-1	+ -
Harris has sat out the last two games with left adductor soreness, but it is predicted that he will suit up versus the Jazz in Thursday's battle.
Jonathan Isaac (PF)	out for season	Groin - 26 / 02 / 23	3-5	5-3	+ -
Isaac will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair a torn left adductor muscle.
Jonathan Isaac (PF)	Out Sat	Rest - 25 / 02 / 23	3-6	5-4	+ -
Isaac will not dress for Saturday's game versus the Pacers as he will be given a day of rest.
Jonathan Isaac (PF)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 14 / 02 / 23	4-8	6-6	+ -
Isaac sat out the last contest due to a left knee injury, but it is expected that he will be active for Thursday's clash against the Pistons.
Cole Anthony (PG)	Prob Thurs	Wrist - 13 / 02 / 23	4-8	6-6	+ -
Anthony has missed the previous two matches due to right wrist pain, but he is expected to be in the lineup versus the Pistons on Thursday.
Gary Harris (SG)	Prob Sat	Thigh - 08 / 02 / 23	5-9	6-8	+ -
Harris was absent from the previous game due to right adductor soreness, and it is expected that he will partake in Saturday's clash versus the Heat.