The NBA playoffs are here, and Boston’s ready to throw a party. The top-seeded Boston Celtics open their title run against the upstart Orlando Magic. Vegas isn’t exactly sweating this one—Boston is a massive 14.5-point favorite in Game 1. But hey, weird things happen when the pressure’s on and the threes stop falling.
Don’t count out Orlando just yet. The Magic bullied their way out of the Play-In and into the playoffs, and they’ve got the size, defense, and "we’ve-got-nothing-to-lose" energy to make things weird for the Celtics.
Game 1 might just be the moment this young Magic squad introduces itself to the national stage. Continue below for our Celtics vs. Magic predictions, picks, and odds for the opening round of the NBA playoffs.
Celtics vs. Magic First Round Series Betting Odds
- Series Winner: Celtics -7500, Magic +2000
- Series Spread: Celtics -3.5 games (+120), Magic +3.5 games (-150)
Celtics vs. Magic NBA Playoffs Predictions, Picks, Odds
🧮 Best Bet: Celtics 2-1 After Three Games (+165)
“After three games, Celtics lead by two to one, +165. That’s my bet.”
Why not Celtics -1.5? “It’s minus 650. Do I really need it?”
Why not Magic win a game? “To win a game is minus 150… do I really need to watch and pay attention to four games for that?”
💪 Matchup Intrigue Makes It Interesting
“The Orlando Magic allowed the fewest three-point field goal attempts of any team in the NBA. How very interesting.”
Key conflict: Celtics shot 54% of their attempts from three. Orlando takes that away.
Further stat twist: “Celtics are dead last at getting to the line on free throws… The Magic just happened to have one fatal flaw defensively: they have the most free throws allowed in the league.”
📊 Bonus Best Bet: Tatum Series Rebound Leader (+200)
“Tatum rebounds has been a thing for ages… he’s averaged 10.1 rebounds per game over his last 39 playoff games.”
Lack of competition: “Franz averaged 5.7 rebounds a game this year… I know Joe [Dellera] likes Franz, but I can’t get from 5.7 to 10.”
🍀 Matt Moore’s Celtics vs. Magic NBA Playoffs Picks & Predictions
By Matt Moore
Matt’s on his usual Celtics skepticism grind — but not fading them. Just trying to bet the angles.
🎯 Best Bet: Magic +2.5 Games (+340)
“I make the Magic +2.5 all the way down at +181. So I had to bet this +340.”
Value over outcome: “It’s not about what’s going to happen. It’s that this number is too long.”
📚 Orlando Built to Ruin the Math
“If you sort by all teams against the Celtics for Boston three-point attempts, they are second. In made threes, they’re first… The Magic didn’t let them take them.”
Magic don’t allow pace or space: They’re top 10 in rim protection and also lead the league in opponent three-point rate.
😤 Celtics Comfort Zone = Danger Zone
“Your number one goal is to get them out of their comfort zone. You cannot beat the Boston Celtics at the Boston Celtics' game.”
Slow it down: “This series is going to be a slog. It’s going to be so slow.”
