Event Details
- Date and Time: Monday, December 23, 2024, 5:00 PM EDT
- Venue: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
- Competition: NBA Regular Season Game
Odds via 20Bet
| Odds via 20bet | |
| Orlando Magic vs Boston Celtics | Monday, December 23, 2024, 5:00 PM MST |
| Orlando Magic Odds | +350 |
| Boston Celtics Odds | -455 |
| Over\Under | Over 225.5 |
Orlando Magic vs Boston Celtics Preview
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic have been up and down halfway into the 2024-2025 NBA season, winning 5 of their last 10 matches, placing them around the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference. The core of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs has been enough to get them a couple of decent wins, but against elite talent they struggle, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
WAGIC WIN 🪄 pic.twitter.com/l9hRUXCabe
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) December 22, 2024
Wager and Suggs have been trying their best, averaging 1.7 and 1.5 steals per game, respectively, but their inside defence is almost nonexistent, with Goga Bitadze really lacking in the shot-blocking department. However, on the offensive side of the ball, they’ve been decent, with Banchero leading the team at 29 points a night.
Against the Boston Celtics, they will seriously struggle to stop any slashing from Jaylen. Brown and Jayson Tatum, let alone stopping their outside shooting.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics currently sit at number two in the Eastern Conference with a record of 22-6, matching up well with even the best rosters in the league. Tatum, Brown, and Derrick White have been holding it down while Kristaps Porziņģis has been in and out all year.
Their scoring is still elite, with Tatum and Brown both decimating teams from inside and outside while guys like Jrue Holiday provide some supplementary offence when need be. Moreover, their perimeter defence has been about as good as you could ask for, with the aforementioned players locking down opposing guards on a nightly basis.
All nine triples courtesy of JT ⤵️
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/VpgZqi4qUg
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 22, 2024
The only issue Boston currently faces is a lack of inside presence with their big man currently in and out with injuries. With little to no shot-blocking and an aged Al Horford unable to move laterally with any speed, they’ve been getting torched by teams with strong big men.
All in all, this is Boston’s game to lose, because even with no big man inside, they should be able to handily beat the Magic.
Orlando Magic vs Boston Celtics Prediction
- Pick: Boston Celtics to win
- Odds: – 455 (20Bet)
- Score prediction: Boston Celtics 125 – 110 Orlando Magic
The bookmakers are giving a massive advantage to the Boston Celtics for good reason, as the Magic will struggle to handle their offensive output. Moreover, the lockdown defence Boston has shown thus far this season is far too smothering for Banchero to dig himself out of.
Jrue Holiday will likely sit on Banchero’s hip throughout the game, grabbing several steals and lowering his overall efficiency while guys like Tatum and Brown smother Wagner and the other Magic players.
JT’s ferocious slam got us out of our seats making it tonight’s @JetBlue Play of the Game 🔨 pic.twitter.com/Y2Tk3jn8an
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 22, 2024
On the offensive side of the ball, Tatum and Brown are going to rip the Magic apart with outside shooting and slashing. If you try to play up on either of the elite guards, they will burn you without a second thought, but if you give them too much space, they’re going to rain threes down on your head; it’s a lose-lose.
However, the lack of inside presence on Boston’s side of things could be an opportunity for the Magic to get back some points with Moritz Wagner putting in some decent minutes, but as he only averaged 12.9 points a night, relying on him may not be the best plan of attack. And most importantly, his serious injury became known today, which will cause Wagner to return only next season.
Moritz Wagner underwent an MRI today and results revealed that Wagner has sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Wagner will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. pic.twitter.com/kfWhIi0VaX
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) December 22, 2024
All in all, Orlando will have to make a herculean performance to beat the Celtics, as long as the Celtics play their game. If they get sucked into Orlando’s tempo, they could potentially drop the game, but with how consistent Tatum has been, he likely won’t let his team fall into that hole.
Orlando Magic vs Boston Celtics, Betting Tip
- Pick: Boston Celtics to win both halves
- Odds: +137 (20Bet)
While the Orlando Magic are the fourth team in the Eastern Conference, they simply aren’t at the caliber of the Boston Celtics. Boston should have a good chance of winning both halves as long as they play their game.
- Pick: Jayson Tatum to score 25.5 or more
- Odds: -113 (20Bet)
Jayson Tatum has been averaging 28.8 points a game so far this season, with averages of 29.9 over the last 10 games. That is to say, scoring 28.5 points in a match against the Orlando Magic is not a stretch.
Where to Watch (USA, Canada)
- TSN & Sportsnet
- NBA League Pass
- Sportsnet NOW
- ESPN+
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