Filip Tomic
It’s gut-check time for the Orlando Magic, who host Game 3 of their first-round series against the Boston Celtics. The defending champs are up 2-0 so the pressure is on Orlando to respond. I’ve picked out my 2 favorite bets for this game and combined them into a Celtics vs Magic Same Game Parlay at +329 odds. You can also find out our NBA predictions for every playoff game today and throughout the entire postseason, but for now, let’s break down each leg of our SGP.
Magic ML (+168)
Paolo Banchero to score 30+ points (+138)
Celtics vs Magic Same Game Parlay odds: +329
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Orlando Magic ML over Boston Celtics (+168)
There’s no 2 ways about it – Game 3 is a must-win situation for the Orlando Magic. No team in NBA postseason history has come back from a 3-0 deficit, so in order to have any hope of winning this series, the Magic must win Friday’s game. They’ll have a sold-out Kia Center behind them that did help them go 2-0 SU against the Celtics in home games during the regular season. At 22-19, they weren’t exactly the best of home teams in the NBA, but we have to take into consideration the number of injuries the Magic had this year. That record would have been a lot better if it wasn’t for the oblique injuries suffered by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner that had them miss several months of action.
I’m expecting the Magic to come out with a lot of energy here, similar to what the Memphis Grizzlies did on Thursday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Grizz built a 26-point lead at the half in Game 3 mainly thanks to an electric crowd at FedEx Forum, and I’m hoping the Magic can do something similar here. Orlando has covered the spread in 5 straight home games against Boston and they’re also 9-3 ATS in their last 12 against Eastern Conference opponents. With Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum potentially missing this game, I’m taking a chance on the underdog Magic to win outright.
Now check out our Lakers vs Timberwolves Same Game Parlay at +592 odds for tonight’s other game on ESPN
Paolo Banchero to score 30+ points (+138)
The math is quite simple for the Magic here. Paolo Banchero has put up much better numbers in wins than in losses this season. His point total is at 27.5 per game in wins compared to just 24.6 when the team losses. So far in the 2 games against Boston, he went over 30 points on respectable efficiency, but the rest of the team hasn’t provided him with enough help. Going back home for Game 3 and Game 4, you’d think Banchero would continue racking up the points as he is a more efficient scorer in games played at Kia Center compared to those away from home.
In his last 10 meetings with the Celtics, Banchero is at 25.1 points per game, and without being defended by Jayson Tatum, he got basically whatever he wanted in Game 2 en route to 32 points. This is the moment of truth for Banchero and his team, and I’m confident he will come up big here to help cash our Celtics vs Magic Same Game Parlay.
