The Boston Celtics look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead as they host the Orlando Magic in Game 2 after dominating the second half of the opener for a convincing 103-86 victory.
Paolo Banchero's 36-point performance wasn't enough for Orlando, who struggled mightily on offense with no other player scoring more than seven points besides Franz Wagner.
With Jayson Tatum listed as doubtful and the Magic desperately needing contributions from their role players, Wednesday's clash at TD Garden sets up as a potential turning point in this first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic matchup, our predictive model gives the Celtics a 58.25% chance of defeating the Magic.
Boston Celtics: 58.25% win probability
- Elite scoring output (9534 points for, 2nd highest in Eastern Conference)
- League-leading defense (8787 points against, best in the NBA)
- Championship-caliber consistency (61-21 record, 2nd in East with recent form of WWLWW)
Orlando Magic: 41.75% win probability
- Offensive production challenges (8645 points scored, lowest among playoff teams in the East)
- Middling regular season record (41-41, barely qualified as 7th seed)
- Historical underdog status (20-game win differential compared to Boston's 61 victories)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model brings together insights from top NBA experts. Instead of searching through countless expert analyses online, you can rely on our predictions to capture the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing expert picks, data, and trends, while our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. These confidence levels are then averaged to generate an 'expert opinion' win probability—providing a data-driven reflection of the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NBA analysts.
Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic odds
Here are the latest odds for an NBA matchup featuring the Orlando Magic visiting the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, April 23.
| Boston Celtics | Orlando Magic | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -535 (via DraftKings Sportsbook) | +550 (via Caesars Sportsbook) |
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Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic preview
Defending champions Boston will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead after throttling Orlando in the second half of Game 1, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a convincing 103-86 victory.
Paolo Banchero's 36-point explosion wasn't nearly enough for the Magic, who managed just 37 second-half points and committed 15 costly turnovers that Boston converted into 24 points on Sunday.
The seventh-seeded Magic, who actually won two of three regular-season matchups against the Celtics, need vastly improved performances from their supporting cast—Wendell Carter Jr. and Cole Anthony combined for just eight points in the opener.
Boston's balanced attack overwhelmed Orlando's vaunted defense (ranked 3rd in the NBA), with Derrick White leading the charge by pouring in 30 points including seven three-pointers, while Jayson Tatum added a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double.
Coach Jamahl Mosley's Magic must find answers for Boston's transition game, where they were outscored 26-4 in Game 1, while also hoping the Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis continues to struggle after shooting just 1-for-8 in the series opener.
The TD Garden crowd will be rocking as the Celtics aim to maintain their dominant home form, having won each of the last eight games against Orlando on their parquet floor.
Key stats
- 1Boston sits 2nd in the Eastern Conference with a 61-21 record, showing dominant form for betting consideration
- 2The Celtics have an impressive +747 point differential (9534 scored vs. 8787 allowed), second-best in the NBA
- 3Orlando ranks 7th in the East with a modest 41-41 record, making them significant underdogs in this matchup
- 4Boston enters on good form (WWLWW) while Orlando shows improvement with recent results (LWWWW), potentially indicating value on Orlando spread bets
Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic form
Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic head to head
Boston Celtics
0%
Orlando Magic
100%
Apr 23, 2025
Boston Celtics
0 : 0
Orlando Magic
Apr 20, 2025
Boston Celtics
103 : 86
Orlando Magic
Apr 9, 2025
Orlando Magic
96 : 76
Boston Celtics
Jan 18, 2025
Boston Celtics
121 : 94
Orlando Magic
Dec 24, 2024
Orlando Magic
108 : 104
Boston Celtics
Dec 17, 2023
Boston Celtics
114 : 97
Orlando Magic
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