Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic Game 4 Prediction, NBA Playoff Odds
The Magic got on the board with a 95-93 victory in Game 3, a win in which Orlando pulled away in the third quarter. Boston surprisingly had Jayson Tatum, listed as doubtful due to a wrist injury, in the lineup for Game 3 and he led all scorers with 36 points. Orlando’s Franz Wagner is having a breakout post-season, scoring 32 points on Friday.
The totals in this series are hovering below 200 and the lower they go, the more it seems to favour the Magic and their physicality on defence. No teams allowed fewer points this season than the Magic and Celtics, and it’s showing through this series’ first three contests. Game 3 featured 43 total fouls and 35 turnovers, and an 11-point third quarter from Boston.
Tip-off for Game 4 at Kia Center is set for 7 p.m. EDT with Boston a 6.5-point favourite on the road and the total at 197.5 on the NBA odds.
Celtics vs. Magic NBA Betting Odds
It’s unders galore between two of the NBA’s best defensive teams. Game 3’s 188 total points led to the total finishing under for the second time this series. Five straight Celtics–Magic contests played in Orlando have now gone under, and six of Orlando’s last seven home outings have finished under the total. No team has reached 110 points in a game this series, and the Magic have finished under 100 points twice.
Orlando’s covered in back-to-back games and are now 6-2 ATS in their last eight overall. Boston’s 4-9 ATS in their last 13 meetings with the Magic. The Celtics remain a -5000 favourite to win the series, with Boston to win in five games currently at -180 odds. Or if you want to call the ultimate upset, you can grab the Magic in six games at +3500 odds.
Boston Celtics
With Tatum back in the starting lineup for Game 3, the Celtics relied heavily on their starters. Boston’s had to roster a different starting five in their last two games, as in Game 2 they were without Tatum (wrist) and Game 3 saw Jrue Holiday (hamstring) sit out. Boston’s bench scoring — which had mostly been via Payton Pritchard to start the series — went cold and served as a real difference-maker in the two-point loss. Boston’s bench totalled nine points in Game 3.
The Celtics are publicly acknowledging how physical Orlando is playing, and it’s starting to pose a problem for Boston’s offence. An 11-point third quarter opened the door for the Magic in Game 3, as did Boosting shooting nine for 27 from three-point range. If Boston can beat Orlando from the perimeter, the Celtics can run away with this series. If not, it’ll be a battle to the end.
Orlando Magic
The shorthanded Magic currently aren’t built for offensive shootouts, so holding the Celtics to under the 100 points benchmark is Orlando’s best path to victory. And once that was accomplished thanks to a stellar defensive second half, the Magic held on for a crucial win in Game 3. Franz Wagner’s 32 points led the way for the Magic on Friday while Paolo Banchero added 29.
Banchero is averaging 34 points this series, and Wagner is up to 24 a game. No other Magic player is above 10 points per game this series. Orlando did get a solid performance from Wendell Carter Jr. on Friday though, as he put up his first double-double of the playoffs with 19 points and 12 rebounds on Friday. As they say: you’re not in trouble until you lose at home.
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