Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics Betting Odds


Opening Betting Lines: Magic +3.5 / Celtics -3.5 O/U 190

Time: 8:30 PM EST Saturday May 22, 2010 on ESPN

The Celtics lead this best of 7 series 2-0.

Tonight in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals the Boston Celtics host the Orlando Magic. The Magic have their backs against the wall after losing the first 2 games of this series at home and this game is vital, as no team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 hole to win a playoff series.

Even though the Celtics swiped home court advantage after winning the 2 games in the Sunshine State they tied for the worst home record for all teams that made the post-season.

Orlando was only 1 of 2 teams that won 2 games during the regular season in Boston this season.

This season the Celtics were 24-17 at home and 32-48-2 ATS and the Magic were 25-16 on the road and 44-33-5 ATS.

The Celtics won game 2 in Boston 95-92 on Tuesday night.

The Celtics have been playing great defense in the series and even though Dwight Howard had 30 points in Game 2 they are not allowing the Magic to kill them with the 3-point bomb. In Game 2 the Magic starters combined to hit on only 4/13 of their 3-pointers.

Jameer Nelson has been great in the playoffs, but has struggled in this series and in Game 2 was only 4/12 from the floor including only hitting on 1 of his 3-point shots. He has to give the Magic some scoring tonight.

In Game 2 the Magic only shot 39.4% from the floor.

The Magic need to play better defense, especially on the perimeter, as in Game 2 Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo each shot at least 50% from the field and combined to score 52 points.

While Pierce played great in Game 2 the other 2 of the Big 3 struggled, as Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen combined to score only 14 points on a combined 6/22 shooting and the Celtics still won.

Howard needs to have another good game and the Magic need to connect on their 3-point shot or there is a good chance the brooms will come out and they will get swept in this series.

Betting Trends

Orlando is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games, 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog, and has an Under record of 8-3 in their last 11 games as a road underdog.

Boston is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games, 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games, and has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 games.

In the last 4 games between these 2 teams in Boston the total has gone Under every time.

Our Selection : Take the Celtics -3.5 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.

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