Monday NBA Betting Preview: Magic vs. Celtics

NBA Preview

Magic vs. Celtics

Two of the perennial powers in the Eastern Conference square off in Boston as the Celtics play host to the Orlando Magic. Game time is 7:30 PM ET at TD Garden.

Sunday, the Celtics beat the Wizards 100-94 getting the cover as a -2 point favorite. Paul Pierce just missed a triple-double with 34 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Pierce scored 14 of Boston’s final 25 points. Kevin Garnett added 17 points including five in the final two minutes. The Celtics shot 51.4 percent for the game including 5 of 12 from 3-point range. They held Washington to 13.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc (2 of 13).

Boston (5-9 SU, 6-8 ATS) played without the top assist man in the Eastern Conference Rajon Rondo (9.4 apg) who missed his second straight game with a wrist injury. The Celtics also lost Ray Allen (15 points per game) in the second quarter to a sprained ankle.

The Celtics are off to a rough start, and there's talk of breaking up The Big Three if the right deal comes along. Injuries and a tough schedule have taken their toll, but Boston remains one of the premier defensive teams in the league ranking sixth in fewest points allowed (90.1 ppg). The Magic are ninth in scoring defense (91.5 ppg). Any contest involving these two teams should be considered as a strong ‘under’ possibility.

Magic, Howard steal the show

Orlando is coming off an impressive 92-80 victory over the LA Lakers on Friday night. Dwight Howard scored a first-round knockout in his matchup with Andrew Bynum. Howard dominated from the start and finished with 21 points and 23 rebounds, playing 46 minutes. Bynum, who was in foul trouble trying guard Howard, managed just 10 points and 12 rebounds. Jameer Nelson added 17 points and nine assists, and J.J. Redick had 15 points as all five starters reached double figures.

The Magic were also aided by the Lakers second consecutive game shooting under 40 percent. The Lakers’ 80 points also erased the season low they set in Thursday night’s loss at Miami.

Orlando was only slightly better at 41 percent but connected on 12 3-pointers.

The interest in Friday's game was pumped up by Howard's earlier trade demand, putting the Lakers, Nets and Mavericks on his short list of most-desired of destinations. Any trade with the Lakers likely would involve Bynum, which might be why the trade talks have not been very productive.

The Magic (11-4) are trying to convince Howard to stay but he has told the Magic he will leave if they don't trade him and get something in return. The Magic are expected to gamble, let the trade deadline pass in March, then try and re-sign him. Howard would receive roughly $30 million more from Orlando then he could get elsewhere.

Stat sheet

Half of Boston’s six wins this season have come against the Wizards, who are 2-14 and own the worst record in the NBA.

Dwight Howard continues to improve his trade value. Howard has recorded 98 rebounds his last five games. That’s nearly 20 rebounds per game.

Trends

Boston took 2 out of 3 from Orlando last season with the two teams splitting ATS (1-1-1).

The ‘under’ has been the financially prudent play this season. The Magic are 10-5 to the low side while the Celtics are 9-4-1 to the ‘under’. Boston is also 9-1-1 below the total in its last 11 games.

The ’under’ is 13-4 in the last 17 series meetings overall and 7-2 in the last nine games in Boston.

Harvey’s Take: Assuming that the Celtics will be shorthanded and knowing that back-to-back situations are tough on them, the play here is on Orlando, the younger and fresher of the two teams.

Good luck!