We have a seven-game slate in the NBA on Monday, January 23, including this conference tilt in Orlando, and here you can take a look at the best Celtics vs. Magic betting pick and odds.

Boston is searching for the tenth consecutive win when they visit Orlando at Amway Center. The Celtics are 8-point favorites on BookMaker Sportsbook, while the total is set at N/A points. These conference rivals have already met three times this season, and surprisingly, the Magic lead the series 2-1.

Celtics edged the Raptors in Toronto

The Boston Celtics (35-12, 25-21-1 ATS) recorded the ninth straight victory and for the second time in a row, it was a one-possession win. After edging the Golden State Warriors in overtime at home, the Celtics snatched a 106-104 win over the Toronto Raptors on the road. The home team had a final possession of the game and a chance to win, but Boston played excellent defense and forced a turnover to seal the deal. The Celtics were better from beyond the arc, making 16 triples opposite Toronto’s seven, while the visitors made nine more free throws (14-5).

Jaylen Brown led the C’s with 27 points, team-high eight rebounds, team-high seven assists, and game-high three steals. Grant Williams scored a career-high 25 points with five boards, Malcolm Brogdon added 23 points and seven rebounds, and Payton Pritchard had 12 points.

SF Danilo Gallinari (ACL) is done for the season. C Robert Williams (knee), SF Jayson Tatum (wrist), and PG Marcus Smart (ankle) are questionable to face the Magic on Monday.

Magic succumbed to a blowout loss in D.C.

The Orlando Magic (17-29, 25-20-1 ATS) beat the New Orleans Pelicans at home but failed to make it two straight for the first time in 2023 after displaying the weakest defensive performance of the season. The Magic allowed a season-high 138 points in a 138-118 road defeat to the Washington Wizards, conceding 30+ points in each quarter in the process. The Wizards were better in ball distribution and registered 34 assists opposite Orlando’s 24, which was the biggest difference in this one.

Markelle Fultz led the Magic with 23 points, game-high eight assists, and five rebounds. Franz Wagner chipped in 20 points and four boards, Paolo Banchero had 15 points with four dimes, while Bol Bol and Wendell Carter Jr. combined for 22 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocks.

PF Jonathan Isaac (knee) and PF Chuma Okeke (knee) are out indefinitely. PG R.J. Hampton (illness) is questionable to feature on Monday against the Celtics.

Trends:

Boston:

  • 6-2-1 ATS in the last nine games vs. a team with a winning % below .400

Orlando:

N/A

Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic Pick

The Celtics have the best record in the entire NBA and just 12 losses so far, but Orlando managed to beat them twice already, both times in Boston! Those victories came as massive shocks, but I don’t expect another upset on Monday. Even if Tatum is unavailable to play, the C’s are a way better side and I am backing them to get a comfortable victory. Boston has the second-best offense in the league that scores 118.5 points per game, while Orlando is not even in the top 25 in that segment with 110.9 ppg. A similar situation is with both offensive and defensive ratings, so my pick here is Boston to cover.

Pick: Take the Celtics at -6.5 (-130)

The Total

The Magic have an average defense that allows 114.7 points per game, but they did allow 136+ in two of their last six games. In that span, Orlando kept the opponents to under 110 points only once, so I believe the Celtics will not have a hard job scoring 120+ on Monday. The total has gone Over in six of Boston’s last eight games against the Southeast Division rivals; the total went Over in 12 of Orlando’s previous 18 games, while the total has gone Over in six of the Magic’s last seven games at home.

Pick: Go Over N/A points