Celtics vs. Magic Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for December 18 (Boston Comes Out Firing in Bounce-Back Effort)

Celtics vs. Magic Game Info

• Date: Sunday, December 18, 2022
• Time: 3:00 PM ET
• Venue: TD Garden -- Boston, Massachusetts
• Coverage: NBCS-BOS and BSFL

The 2022-23 NBA season continues on Sunday with seven more games, including a battle between the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics. The Magic rank 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 10-20 record, while the Celtics check in first with a 22-8 record. This is a rematch from Friday's action.

It was the Magic that emerged victorious by a score of 117-109 in that game. Orlando out-rebounded Boston by 15 as Moritz Wagner led the way with 25 points (9-of-12 shooting) and 8 rebounds. Jayson Tatum tallied 31 points, but was just 2-of-8 from beyond the arc. Which team will come out on top?

Celtics vs. Magic Odds & Spread

• All NBA betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
• Moneyline: BOS: (-480) | ORL: (+370)
• Spread: BOS: -10.5 (-105) | ORL: +10.5 (-115)
• Total: 223 -- Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)

The Celtics enter this contest as clear home favorites on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 3 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 223 points, which is below average compared to the rest of Sunday's projected totals.

Celtics vs. Magic Betting Trends

• The Celtics covered 43 times in 82 chances against the spread last season.
• Against the spread, as underdogs of 10 points or more, the Magic went 11-18 last year.
• Last season, the combined scoring went over the point total 41 times in Celtics games.
• The Magic had 42 of their 82 games go over the point total last season.

Celtics vs. Magic Prediction & Pick

Friday nights' victory was just Orlando's second on the road this season. It was an outstanding effort for a team that averages a league-low 104.6 points per away game. It's not something fans should come to expect moving forward, though. Beating Boston at home in back-to-back games is tough.

The Celtics have posted a reliable +9.3 average scoring margin at TD Garden this season (No. 4 in NBA) and shoot 51.4% from the floor in home games (No. 3 in NBA). The duo of Tatum and Jaylen Brown should have no trouble torching a defense that ranks 26th in defensive efficiency on Sunday.

Boston is also 8-2 straight up in its last 10 games against a Southwest Division opponent, so give me the Celtics.

Final Score Prediction: Celtics: 120 | Magic: 105

Celtics vs. Magic Best Bet

The Celtics jumped out to a 14-5 lead over the Magic on Friday, but poor shooting to end the first quarter and start the second changed everything. Orlando entered the break with an 8-point lead and never looked back. Expect Boston to come out the gate firing to ensure that doesn't happen again.

Backing Boston to score 60 ore more points in the first half is the best bet. The Celtics average a league-best 62.8 first half points per game and have scored at least 60 in 12 of their 14 home games this season. They also put up 68 first half points against the Magic in October before Friday's mess.

Bet: Boston Celtics First Half Team Total Over 59.5 Points (-122)

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.