The Boston Celtics travel to face the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center on Wednesday night. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM ET. Boston is locked in as the No. 2 seed in the East at 59-20, while Orlando is battling to stay in the seventh spot with a 39-40 record.
This is the third meeting of the season between the two teams. Orlando won the first matchup 108-104 at home, but Boston bounced back with a 121-94 win in January. The Celtics enter this game on a nine-game road win streak, while the Magic are looking to keep their home-court edge heading into the play-in tournament.
Magic Preview – Banchero Carrying the Load
Orlando is coming off a 119-112 win over Atlanta on Tuesday night. Paolo Banchero led the way with 33 points and 10 rebounds. Franz Wagner added 22 points and has now scored 20 or more in 11 straight games.
The Magic need this win to stay ahead of Atlanta for the seventh seed. Orlando is 21-19 at home this year and has focused on defense, allowing just 105.7 points per game, the fewest in the league. Wendell Carter Jr. had six steals and three blocks in the win over Atlanta and continues to anchor the paint.
Markelle Fultz and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope help provide backcourt depth, while Cole Anthony adds scoring from the bench. The team’s offensive stats don’t jump out, but Orlando ranks top 10 in rebounding and steals. They play at a slower pace and try to control games with physical defense and limited turnovers.
Celtics Preview – History on the Line
The Celtics beat the Knicks 119-117 in overtime on Tuesday. Kristaps Porzingis had 34 points, tying his season high. Jayson Tatum added 32 points, and Boston improved to 33-7 on the road, one win away from tying the best road record in league history.
Boston’s starting five of Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White remains one of the best in the league. The Celtics rank top five in points per game (116.9), three-point shooting (37.0%), and assists-to-turnover ratio (2.2). They lead the league in three-point attempts and makes per game and hold the second-best field goal percentage in the first half.
Boston also ranks top three in blocks, steals, and defensive efficiency. Their defense allows just 105.7 points per game. The bench, led by Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser, provides spacing and energy. Coach Joe Mazzulla has emphasized strong starts and attention to detail, especially late in games where execution matters most.
Betting Prediction
Orlando is favored by five points with the total at 208. Boston is +165 on the moneyline. Despite having little to play for in the standings, Boston has shown no signs of slowing down and could push for a historic road win here.
Orlando needs the game more, but Boston’s experience, scoring power, and depth could be too much. The Celtics match up well with the Magic and have strong trends on the road. Look for Boston to keep the game close or win outright.
Pick: Boston Celtics +5.5 over Orlando Magic
This should be a fun game on Wednesday in the National Basketball Association!
