Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics Game 2 Prediction, NBA Odds
Orlando gave Boston a good shot in the series opener, leading at halftime behind two exceptional performances from the Magic’s top two scorers as Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner combined for 59 points. Boston’s depth allowed them to capture the 103-86 win in Game 1, as their two top scorers only totalled 33 points — 17 from Jayson Tatum and 16 from Jaylen Brown. Derrick White’s 30 led the way for Boston.
But even after a 17-point loss, there are some positives for the Magic. First off, there’s the halftime lead Orlando had. The game was also played to the Magic’s style, as Boston had a tough time reaching 100 points against Orlando’s NBA-best scoring defence and held Tatum in check through the game.
Tip-off for Game 2 goes at 4 p.m. EDT with the Celtics a -12.5-point favourite, and the total dipping below 200 to 199.5 on the NBA odds.
Magic vs. Celtics NBA Betting Odds
Boston’s Game 1 victory has swayed the series odds mightily to their favour, with Orlando now +2500 to win this series. A Boston sweep is currently listed at +115 odds, the likeliest series outcome according to Sports Interaction. After a 33-point Game 1, Paolo Banchero is -350 to lead the series in scoring. Jayson Tatum is +550, and Derrick White +1800.
Game 1 finished under the total and Game 2’s over-under has now dropped to 199.5. Orlando’s 86 points in Game 1 was their lowest points total since March 10. Since then, the Magic were averaging well over 100 points a game. But this Orlando–Boston series is a battle between the NBA’s top two defences in points allowed and it showed in Game 1. Four of the last five Magic–Celtics contests have finished under the total too.
Orlando Magic
The Magic hung around for a half in Game 1, but a 37-point second half was a kiss of death on the road at TD Garden. Orlando got cold from the field in the second half, as a lack of scoring depth came into the spotlight. Nearly all the offence runs through Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, as the duo took 51 of Orlando’s 81 field goals in Game 1. No other Magic player scored over seven points, with four bench players accumulating 18 combined points.
Banchero and Wagner are going to get their points — if they don’t Orlando is in a world of trouble — so it’s got to be a depth guard or two stepping up offensively for the Magic. Naturally that conversation turns to bench point guard Cole Anthony, who dropped 26 points in Orlando’s play-in win and had 18 points and five threes against the Celtics earlier this month.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics operated as a well-oiled machine in Game 1, not panicking after trailing at the half and eventually pulling away via waves of offence. The key storyline for Boston headed into Game 2, and the rest of this series is the health of Jayson Tatum. The superstar forward is listed as day-to-day after falling on his wrist during Game 1, meaning he could be a true game-time decision heading into Wednesday’s Game 2. The injury, suffered during a flagrant foul from Orlando’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, has drawn the attention of the Celtics too. Veteran forward Al Horford said “there was something extra there” which adds a little spice to Game 2.
If Tatum can’t go or is limited, Boston should be just fine in the scoring department. Derrick White was red hot in Game 1 with seven threes and a team-high 30, while Payton Pritchard added 19 points and four made threes off the bench in Game 1.
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