Celtics and Magic Face Off in Exciting Playoff Opener

On Sunday, the underdog Orlando Magic, seeded seventh, will clash with the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series. Fresh off a commanding 120-95 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in tournament, the Magic earned their playoff spot and are looking to make waves against a formidable opponent.

With a record of 41-41 and a Southeast Division title to their name, the Magic have shown resilience, although their road stats are less than stellar at 19-22 this season. In stark contrast, the Celtics have dominated with a remarkable 61-21 record and a strong home performance of 28-13.

Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET at TD Garden in Boston. The Celtics enter the game as heavy favorites, boasting a 13.5-point lead according to latest betting lines at DraftKings, with an over/under for total points set at 205.5.

Key Players to Watch

The Celtics will look to their star small forward, Jayson Tatum, who has been on fire this season, averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. Tatum lit up the Magic earlier this season, scoring 30 points in one match-up, showcasing his ability to dominate.

Shooting guard Jaylen Brown adds firepower to Boston's lineup; his 22.2 points per game makes him a critical asset. Despite recent injury concerns, Brown is expected to start and contribute significantly.

On the other side, the Magic will depend heavily on power forward Paolo Banchero, who nearly achieved a double-double in his last outing against the Hawks with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Banchero has been impressive against the Celtics this season, averaging 18 points in their previous meetings.

Small forward Franz Wagner is another player to keep an eye on. He’s been a standout performer, averaging 24.2 points in 2024-25 and recently recorded a double-double to propel the Magic.

Betting Insights and Predictions

The SportsLine Projection Model has crunched the numbers and simulated the game 10,000 times, projecting a total score of 214 points, leaning towards the Over. The model also favors one side of the spread hitting more than 60% of the time.

As the Celtics look to sustain their playoff momentum and the Magic aim for an upset, this Game 1 showdown promises to be a thrilling encounter. Don't miss out on what could set the tone for the rest of the series!