Celtics Face Magic in High-Stakes Eastern Conference Showdown

BOSTON, Mass. — The Boston Celtics (23-19) and Orlando Magic (28-12) are set to clash in a pivotal Eastern Conference matchup Friday night at TD Garden. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with the Celtics entering as 14.5-point favorites.

Orlando, despite its strong season record, has struggled recently, losing three of its last four games. The Magic suffered a crushing 122-93 defeat on Wednesday, while Boston also comes off a loss, falling 110-97 in its previous outing. The Celtics hold a 2-3 record over their last five games.

In their last meeting on Dec. 23, Orlando edged out Boston 108-104. However, the Magic will be without key players, including [Player A] (back), [Player B] (hamstring), [Player C] (reconditioning), and [Player D] (concussion).

Boston’s star forward Jayson Tatum continues to dominate, ranking fifth in the NBA with 27.7 points per game. Tatum recently posted 38 points, 11 rebounds, and one steal in a Jan. 12 game against [Opponent]. Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown has been a consistent contributor, averaging 23.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.

Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, recently back in the lineup, has been a standout performer, averaging 27.6 points, eight rebounds, and 4.9 assists in eight games this season. Guard Cole Anthony has also been a reliable force, averaging 15.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in January.

According to the SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, the model leans toward the Under on the 212.5-point total, projecting 210 combined points. The model also indicates that one side of the spread hits in nearly 70% of simulations.

Fans and bettors alike are eager to see if the Celtics can capitalize on their home-court advantage or if the Magic can bounce back from their recent struggles. For detailed predictions and betting insights, visit SportsLine.