Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics (-3) Betting Odds

This series shifts to Boston as the No.4 seed Celtics host No.2 seed Orlando Magic for game three of their best-of-seven series in the finals of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs on Saturday at 8:30 P.M.

After winning their last six regular season games and coasting through the first two rounds of the playoffs with four game sweeps of Charlotte and Atlanta, Orlando's 14 game winning streak came to a sudden end when they ran into a smothering Boston defense in game one of this series. Dwight Howard was held to just six points from the field and was seven of 12 from the free throw line. Despite a valiant comeback from 20 points down, they could not close the gap in an 88-92 loss. Ray Allen led the Celtics with a game high 25 points and Vince Carter led the Magic with 23 points.

In game two it was pretty much more of the same as the Magic was held to shooting 39% from the floor and was actually held scoreless for almost seven minutes of the third period. Howard ended the night with 30 points but it was enough to stop Boston from winning the first two games of this series on the road with a 95-92 victory in game two. Paul Pierce scored 28 points Rajon Rondo added 25 points for the Celtics while Carter and J.J. Redick each added 16 points for the Magic.

With Boston playing at such a high level, Orlando needs to find a way to spread the ball around and improve upon the .405 field goal percentage they had in the first two games. The recent trends stack up against them as the Magic is 1-4 ATS and 0-5 SU against Boston in their last five games. They also have to win this one on the road, where they went 25-16 in the regular season verse their 34-7 record at home.

The Celtics have found new life in these playoffs as their aging stars; Allen, Pierce, and Kevin Garnett would have their team on the verge of another trip to the finals with a win in this one. If they can continue to play defense at this high of a level, a low scoring affair plays right into their hands. Nine of the last 10 games these two teams have played against each other have stayed UNDER the total.

Rankin's Bet Everything points to a Celtic win at home to take a commanding three games to none lead in this series, but Orlando is not about to lay down and die. Howard, Carter, and the rest of this still very talented Magic team will find a way to crawl back into this series with a big win in game three as a three point dog.
Take the Magic +4 at BetUs