NBA playoffs: Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics, Game 1
The Orlando Magic certainly should have a physical advantage over the Boston Celtics heading into Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal on Monday night.
The Magic finished off Philadelphia in six games on Thursday night, while Boston was extended to a Game 7 by Chicago on Saturday night. The Celtics actually played the equivalent of eight games in the series, and their two stars, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, are getting up there in years, so it remains to be seen how much that duo has left with the quick turnaround for Game 1 of this series.
Yet Boston is a 1.5-point home favorite on WagerWeb.com for Game 1, with the over/under at 188.5. Boston won three of four home playoff games against the Bulls but just as easily could have lost three of four.
Orlando and Boston split four games this season, with the Magic winning the final two. That’s a bit misleading, however, as Kevin Garnett missed one of those final two entirely and barely played in the other. When he was healthy, the Celtics beat the Magic by double digits twice.
The Magic also won’t have starting guard Courtney Lee tonight. The rookie is out for the series’ first two games and maybe the entire playoffs after undergoing surgery on his fractured nasal cavity last week; that injury came courtesy of an elbow from teammate Dwight Howard, who returns tonight from a one-game suspension. That means Howard has had about a week off, so he should have fresh legs.
Howard averaged just 16.8 points per game against Boston in the regular season, with forward Rashard Lewis being the best Magic player with an average of 21.5 points and 51 percent shooting against the Celtics.
J.J. Redick will likely start again for Lee after scoring 15 points in the clincher against the Sixers. He gives Orlando a third 3-point threat in the starting five (with Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu) but has not been a strong defender. Thus Mickael Pietrus could see the floor plenty to help out on Allen.
Pierce and Allen led the Celtics against the Magic in the regular season, averaging 23.35 ppg and 20.5 ppg, respectively.
WagerWeb.com Key Trends
* Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
* Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in Boston.
* Home team is 21-9 ATS in the last 30 meetings.
* Magic are 3-12 ATS in the last 15 meetings in Boston.
* Underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
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