Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic Betting Odds


Opening Betting Lines: Celtics +7.5 / Magic -7.5 O/U 188.5

Time: 8:30 PM EST Tuesday May 18, 2010 on ESPN

The Celtics lead this best of 7 series 1-0.

Tonight the Magic try to even the Eastern Conference finals hosting the Boston Celtics. The Celtics won Game 1 in Orlando, which was Orlando's first playoff loss this season. Boston now has home court advantage and if the Magic lose this game they will be heading to Beantown down 2-0 in this series.

This season the Magic were 34-7 at home and 44-33-5 ATS and the Celtics were 26-15 on the road and 32-48-2 ATS.

The Celtics won Game 1 on Sunday afternoon 92-88.

The Celtics jumped out to a big lead after the 3rd quarter in Game 1 and even though the Magic out-scored them 30-18 in the 4th quarter they still lost by 4 points. They cannot allow the Celtics to jump out to a big lead again and take the crowd out of the game.

The Magic have to play much better perimeter defense tonight, as in Game 1 Paul Pierce and Ray Allen combined to score 47 points on 14/24 shooting and the 2 of the Big 3 also buried 4 of 8 of their 3-pointers.

Jameer Nelson has played great in the playoffs and in Game 1 he did score 20 points, but he only was 8/18 from the floor and only 2/7 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Dwight Howard only scored 13 points on 3/13 shooting in Game 1 and he committed 7 turnovers. He could use some help from the guards, as Nelson and Rashard Lewis (6 points 2/10 shooting) both struggled with their shot in Game 1. If they do not hit the outside J the Celtics can drop down in the lane to contain Howard. They swarmed Howard in Game 1 and if the Magic don't shoot well from outside that will happen tonight.

The Magic committed 18 turnovers in Game 1 and they have to hold onto the rock better in tonight's game.

The Celtics are back to playing great defense, as the Magic only shot 41.6% in Game 1.

The Magic have not lost consecutive home games all season.

Betting Trends

Boston is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games, 8-3 ATS in their last 11 playoff games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5, and has an Under record of 8-1 in their last 9 games.

Orlando is 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 home games, 7-1 ATS in their last 8 playoff games as a favorite, and has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 games.

In the last 9 games between these 2 teams the total has gone Under 8 times.

Our Selection : Take the Magic -7.5 at SportsInteraction.


Future Betting Odds

NBA Handicapping

Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat Odds 6-12
The Mavs are up 3-2 in this series heading to South Beach and for the Heat to force Game 7 they will have to play better in the 4th quarter, especially LeBron James. 5Dimes has the hometown Heat as 5-point favorites in Game 6 with a total of 187.

NBA Toolbox

Sportsbooks