Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s NBA clash between Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics, including predictions, team news and form guide.
Two of the top four sides in the Eastern Conference of the NBA will do battle at Amway Center on Tuesday as the Orlando Magic entertain the challenge of the Boston Celtics.
Both teams head into this one off the back of respective victories and will be looking to pick up where they left off last time out.
Match preview
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Having suffered three defeats on the bounce for the first time since early November, a short-handed Orlando Magic outfit battled hard to see off the threat of the Miami Heat in a 121-114 triumph on Sunday.
Going into the break down by 20 points, Jamahl Mosley‘s men produced arguably the most impressive defensive performance in a half this season as they held their opponents to 38 second-half points, including only eight in the fourth quarter, which formed the basis for a remarkable turnaround.
In the absence of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony seized the moment as he tallied a season-high 35 points in just 28 minutes of action to go along with eight rebounds and nine assists.
Improving their record for the season to 18-12, the Magic remain fourth in the East and are on course to head to the playoffs for the second straight year following a seven-game first-round exit to the Cleveland Cavaliers last time out.
Fresh from returning to winning ways on home court in the third of a seven-game homestretch, Tuesday’s hosts will now brace themselves for arguably their toughest home test yet before closing out the year with clashes against the Heat, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.
© Imago
Barely 48 hours after suffering a shock home 108-117 defeat to the Chicago Bulls, the Boston Celtics wasted no time exacting revenge as they romped to a 123-98 victory at the United Center in Sunday’s encounter.
An even first 12 minutes saw both teams score 28 points apiece before Joe Mazzulla‘s men took over in the subsequent three quarters, scoring at least 30 points in each of them and limiting their opponents to an average of just over 23 points.
Recording his first triple-double of the campaign, Jayson Tatum also racked up season highs for points and rebounds with 43 and 15 respectively, alongside 10 assists to lead his side to a comfortable win on the road.
Now 22-6 for the year, the Celtics continue to mount pressure on the Cavs at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, with both teams well clear of the rest, having won a combined 47 of 57 matches so far.
Going up against a Magic side that have given up the second fewest points per game (103.9), only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tuesday’s visitors, who have scored the third-most points per game, are set to have their offensive firepower extensively tested.
Orlando Magic NBA form:
Boston Celtics NBA form:
Team News
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Paolo Banchero (oblique) has started taking part in some conditioning and ball-handling drills but is expected to sit out Tuesday’s affair as he continues to near a return to action.
Franz Wagner (oblique) is also unavailable for the home side, while Jalen Suggs and Gary Harris are major doubts through ankle and hamstring problems respectively.
Moritz Wagner lasted just two minutes against the Heat as he had to come off with a knee injury, which has left his availability for this one currently hanging in the balance.
Twenty-seven-year-old Sam Hauser is the Celtics’ only injury concern for this one after missing his side’s win over the Bulls last time out with a back issue.
Xavier Tillman was a doubt for the aforementioned game, but the forward ended up featuring, albeit in only a limited capacity, as he saw only four minutes of action.
Orlando Magic possible starting five:
Black, Caldwell-Pope; Da Silva, Carter Jr.; Bitadze
Boston Celtics possible starting five:
Holiday, White; Brown, Tatum; Porzingis
We say: Celtics to win by 5+ points.
Facing off against the defending champions without their best two players, the Magic have it all to do here if they are to avoid a third straight defeat against the Celtics, who are nearly at full strength.
We are backing the away side to get the job done at the sound of the final buzzer in what should be a keenly contested affair.
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