The Boston Celtics visit the Orlando Magic tonight in their respective final games before Christmas Day.
The Magic snapped a three-game skid with a win over the Heat when last seen, while the Celtics blew out the Bulls to split the back-to-back series against Chicago.
My Celtics vs. Magic predictions expect Jayson Tatum to stay red hot as he looks to lead his team to another victory. Read my NBA picks for Monday, December 23, to see why you should take the Over on Tatum’s combo prop tonight.
Celtics vs Magic prediction
My best bet
Jayson Tatum Over 39.5 points + rebounds + assists (-115 at bet365)
My analysis
Jayson Tatum has been absolutely electric as of late, going for 29.9 points, 11.6 boards, and 5.4 dimes across his last eight outings. In that span, Tatum has hit the Over on this prop six times and posted exactly 39 PRAs once.
On the season, Tatum has hit the Over on this line in 17 of 26 games, good for 65.4% of his games. The implied probability on the -115 odds for this prop is 53.49%, which means we’re getting this one at a bargain. In addition to those 17 games hitting the Over, Tatum hit 38 PRAs twice and 39 PRAs two more times, which means he’s gone for at least 38 PRAs in 21 of 26 games.
Tatum has averaged 40.8 PRAs at home but a whopping 46.8 on the road, which gives him an advantage in this one while playing at Kia Center. The Orlando Magic's defense has been elite this season, but the team is down both Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. Mo Wagner suffered a torn ACL last week, and Jalen Suggs is questionable for Monday’s showdown, exposing the shorthanded Magic to Tatum’s superb play.
Tatum posted a 43/15/10 line in his last game, becoming the only player in Boston Celtics history to reach those milestones in a single outing. On the season, he’s averaging a healthy 43.8 PRAs, so he can have a below-average outing and still hit the Over. I expect Tatum to keep rolling against a depleted Magic team and go for at least 40 PRAs.
Celtics vs Magic same-game parlay
Jayson Tatum Over 39.5 points + rebounds + assists
Magic +9.5
Goga Bitadze double-double
The hits keep coming for Orlando, as the team found out last week that backup big man and microwave bench scorer Mo Wagner will be out for the season with a torn ACL. The Magic will be without three of their top scorers on Monday, and with Jalen Suggs questionable, this one could get ugly. It could… but I’m not counting on it.
Despite playing at far less than 100%, the Magic lost 105-99 to the Thunder and 100-91 to the Knicks before defeating the Heat to get back in the win column. The Magic won 11 straight home games before suffering those two losses, and to keep the score so close against a pair of elite teams shows just how well this group plays at Kia Center.
The Magic are 10-2-1 ATS at home, while the Celtics are 6-7 ATS as the road team. Boston might have the best straight up record on the road at 11-2 and the second-best record in the East at 22-6, but the C’s haven’t been kind to spread bettors thanks to a dismal 11-17 record ATS. I’ll take the Magic to cover this huge spread at home, even while missing multiple key players.
I won’t stop betting on Goga Bitadze unless the odds on his combo props start getting shorter. For now, this is a no-brainer wager, and I’m adding it to this parlay without hesitation.
Bitadze’s double-double odds are a tantalizing +140 despite him hitting it in two straight and four of the last five. In that span, the big man has averaged 14.8 points and 12.8 boards. Bitadze has posted a double-double in 10 games overall this season, and six of those have come across his last 10 outings. Bitadze has averaged 8.4 points and 7.5 rebounds on the road but 10.7 points and 8.5 boards at home, making this wager even more enticing.
With no Mo Wagner or Paolo Banchero, Bitadze should see big frontcourt minutes alongside Wendell Carter Jr. The Celtics have allowed the eighth-most rebounds and sixth-most points in the paint to opponents this season. Go, go, Goga!
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Celtics vs Magic odds
Celtics vs Magic live odds
Celtics vs Magic opening odds
- Spread: Boston -10 (-110) | Orlando +10 (-110)
- Moneyline: Boston -450 | Orlando +350
- Over/Under: Over 215 (-110) | Under 215 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Celtics vs Magic spread and Over/Under analysis
- Boston has won seven but covered in only three of the last 10, and the team is 22-6 straight up and 11-17 ATS.
- Orlando has lost four of six and covered in three, bringing the Magic’s record to 18-12 straight up and 17-12-1 ATS.
- The Celtics are 3-7 to the Under across their last 10 and 12-15-1 to the Under on the season.
- The Magic have hit the Over in five of 10, Orlando is 14-16 to the Under through 30 games.
Celtics vs Magic trend
Orlando sports the second-best home record at 11-2, and Boston sports the best road record at an identical 11-2. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Magic.
How to watch Celtics vs Magic
| Location: | Kia Center, Orlando, FL |
| Date: | Monday, 12-23-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | FDSNFL, NBCSB |
Celtics vs Magic latest injuries
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