7:35 pm
April 7

Magic @ Celtics

Who will WIN this matchup?

Orlando Magic (40-40)

@ Boston Celtics (48-32)

 

Current odds:

Orlando Magic: (+175)

Boston Celtics: (-210)

 

• The spread for the game is Boston by 5 points.

• Orlando is healthy coming down the stretch and gave most of its regulars an easy night against the Hawks after racing to a 42-18 advantage through the first quarter and coasting to a ninth straight home win. Ross, Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier each scored 25 points and nobody played more than Vucevic (30 minutes) in the team’s best offensive showing since Feb. 20, 1995. “We won that game in the first quarter,” Fournier told reporters. “We came out with so much energy and just kept it going.”

• Boston has endured an up-and-down regular season after being tabbed by many as the favorite in the East, but it may be starting to put the pieces together at the right time. “Much more purpose from the group,” center Al Horford, one of six players to score in double figures in Friday’s 117-97 win at Indiana, told reporters. “The focus level has been much better, and that’s encouraging to see.” At the forefront of the surge is the play of backup forward Gordon Hayward, who hit all nine of his shots en route to 21 points against the Pacers and is averaging 16.4 points on 58.8 percent shooting over his last seven games.

• Fournier is averaging 21.7 points on 60 percent from the field in three games this month.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Boston Celtics
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