The Boston Celtics will attempt to bounce back from a frustrating loss when they host the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. ET tonight. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN, and the Celtics are favored by 13.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Boston is coming off a 110-97 loss Wednesday to the 10-win Toronto Raptors. The Celtics have not been playing up to expected standards recently, with a 6-4 record in their last 10 games and splitting their last 14. In their past three losses, they have been held to under 100 points.
This is a matchup of two Eastern Conference contenders that are underperforming. Orlando has been ravaged by injuries, though. The Magic lost three of their past four games, and were thrashed by the Bucks on Wednesday, 112-93.
Both of these teams likely will be playing better in a few weeks, but for now, each could use a win to get on a positive track.
The Celtics should point themselves back in the right direction with a win tonight, and this injury-riddled version of the Magic is not as much of a threat as they might be during a playoff series later this season. This spread is simply too big, however, as Orlando also may be motivated to put a bad loss behind it.
Boston is 15-22-1 ATS as a favorite this season, per TeamRankings.com. The Celtics are 7-14 ATS as a home favorite, and they are 8-10-1 on equal rest. In the last two home games, they beat New Orleans by one point and lost to Sacramento by 17.
Orlando's Paolo Banchero will be playing in his fourth game back from an oblique injury and should get closer to his best self with every game. Orlando's defense will make the Celtics earn their buckets, as it has allowed 104.4 points per game over its last 10.
Over 212 points: -108 at DraftKings
Defense is a strength of both teams, and this is the lowest total on the NBA slate tonight. Orlando ranks second in the league in points per game allowed (103.7), and the Celtics are sixth (108.7).
Neither team is shooting well enough, either, especially from three-point range. Last season, Boston led the Eastern Conference in three-point percentage, and it ranks 15th this season. The Magic rank last in the league in three-point percentage.
While several numbers and trends support the projected over/under total, though, the number is still too low when we consider the Celtics rank fourth in the league in points per game (117.5) and will be set to rebound from the Toronto loss with a better performance.
The Magic do rank last in the NBA in points per game (104.5), yet if both teams play to their averages, we can see the total move past the over.
Kristaps Porzingis over 18 points: -110 on DraftKings
Porzingis has not scored fewer than 18 points in his last five games. He is playing consistently and delivering quality output while healthy. The Celtics' center is averaging 19 points per game in January. He has also made 11 three-pointers in his last three games. Orlando is allowing 19.8 points per game to opposing centers, per FantasyPros.