Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic
PREVIEW: The Orlando Magic (10-7) start a 3-game road trip by visiting the Boston Celtics (8-8) Sunday , setting up an intriguing Eastern Conference battle at TD Garden. The Magic have won 3 straight and have put up 120 or more points in each of those wins , showcasing an offense that has found its rhythm recently. Boston was handed a 113-105 loss by the Brooklyn Nets Friday while failing to cover as a 14-point home favorite , leaving the Celtics searching for answers after an underwhelming defensive performance. Orlando dominated 123-110 at home in the first matchup between these squads, but 2 days later, the Celtics picked up the 111-107 road win , illustrating how competitive this season series has been.
Boston, despite being low in points per game (113.2), has a top-10 offensive rating, while Orlando's offense has been much improved lately, so Boston's defense won't look quite as stifling as it has throughout most of the season. Jaylen Brown averages 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, shooting 50.3% from the field and 34.4% from downtown with 1.9 made 3-pointers per contest , providing Boston with its primary offensive engine. Franz Wagner gives the Magic 23.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists on a per-game basis , anchoring an Orlando attack that has become increasingly versatile. The Over is also 3-1 in the last 4 matchups between these squads, and it has hit in 4 straight for Orlando , suggesting scoring could be plentiful in this East Coast showdown.