Get a $500 Bonus on a $500 Deposit at BetUS!

NBA Playoff Odds: Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics Game 7

Written by Jimmy Boyd

magic-celtics-gm-7-51509 Was there ever any doubt that this series would go seven games? The Orlando Magic trailed for much of Thursday’s elimination game, but they came up big down the home stretch to force a Game 7 on Sunday, May 17th at 8:00 pm EST on TNT. NBA odds makers believe it will be Boston moving on to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, listing the Celtics as 3-point favorites with the total set at 185.5.

After calling out head coach Stan Van Gundy following a Game 5 defeat, 1st Team All-NBA center Dwight Howard, got what he asked for in Game 6 – the ball. And Howard did not disappoint, finishing with 23 points and 22 rebounds on 9 of 16 shooting from the floor. It figures to take nothing short of the same effort to get the Magic past the Celtics and into the Eastern Conference Finals. Orlando has been one of the best road teams in the NBA over the past couple seasons, currently at 30-17 on the road this season, and it must defeat a Boston team that is 40-8 at home. The key for Orlando is on the defensive end because its offense has not been as good as expected. Orlando was brilliant defensively in Game 6, holding the Celtics to only 75 points, and it was a good thing because the team continued to struggle from three point range. The Magic were one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA from beyond the arc this season, averaging 10 makes per game on 38.1 percent shooting (7th in the NBA). It has been a struggle to get the threes to fall in this series, though. Orlando shot just 6 of 26 for 23.1 percent from deep in Game 6. If you like Orlando to win this series, bet the Magic at +3 at Bookmaker and get a 20 percent cash sign up bonus.

This is familiar territory for Boston, which was taken to a pair of Game 7’s in the first two rounds of the 2008 NBA Playoffs. The Celtics were able to prevail in each of those games on their way to winning a NBA championship, but that team had Kevin Garnett on the floor. This team does not, but odds makers are still giving the most storied franchise in NBA history the edge on its home court. If Boston is going to win this series Sunday evening, it will likely need Ray Allen to get out of his shooting slump. After a brilliant first round series versus Chicago, Allen hasn’t been able to buy a bucket in round two. He was 2 of 11 for just five points in Game 6, including 0 of 7 from the three point line. Allen is averaging just 11.5 points per game in this series, 6.7 points below his season average. Another key to Boston’s success will be the play of Glen “Big Baby” Davis. He contributed 21 and 22 points respectively in Boston’s Game 4 and Game 5 wins, but he finished with only six points Thursday night. Boston has never lost when leading 3-2 in a series so if you think that trend will hold up Sunday night, bet the Celtics at -3 at Bookmaker.

Need help beating the NBA betting odds? Jimmy Boyd has your back with his NBA expert picks!

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in: