Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics (August 9, 2020): How to Watch, Odds and Prediction
The Orlando Magic have clinched a playoff spot. But their margin for error to win the seventh seed is now incredibly small as they take on the Boston Celtics.
Orlando Magic (32-38) vs. Boston Celtics (46-23)
Time/TV:
5 p.m./FOX Sports Florida
WATCH MAGIC-CELTICS ON FUBO TV
FOLLOW LIVE2020 Season Series:
in Orlando on Jan. 24;
in Boston on Feb. 5; Today at the NBA Campus
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 98.9 | 107.8 | 109.0 | 50.6 | 26.6 | 12.9 | 25.3 |
| Boston | 100.0 | 112.9 | 106.6 | 53.2 | 28.4 | 13.6 | 26.0 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic played significantly better in their loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. They showed plenty of fight and grit defensively. But the fourth quarter proved to be an undisciplined disaster. Without Aaron Gordon in there, the Magic were a bit exposed physically and they struggled to hit the glass. That was a game Orlando should feel it let slip through. If Orlando can take that effort, hit a few more timely shots and get back to playing the way they normally do, then the team will have a chance to win. But the Celtics are a completely different matchup. The Magic have some matchup advantages, but they have no answer for Jayson Tatum and especially for Kemba Walker.
18. Prediction. 103. 38. 109
1) With a playoff spot clinched, the Orlando Magic’s goal is to get healthy and prepared for the postseason, Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel writes.
2) The Orlando Magic are back in the playoffs, but they did not play their way in like they did last year. This season is left somewhat unfulfilled.
3) Kemba Walker’s minutes will continue to ramp up, capping off at 30-32 minutes, as the seeding round concludes Tom Westerholm of MassLive.com writes.
4) Mike Schmitz of ESPN breaks down how Markelle Fultz finally found his place in the NBA.
5) Jayson Tatum called Marcus Smart the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics as they come off a giant win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday, Sean T. McGuire of NESN writes.
6) NBA players are still getting used to their surroundings inside the NBA campus, Paolo Ugetti of The Ringer writes.
7) The Orlando Magic’s poor shooting is still keeping this team from having a breakthrough, Tim Briggs writes.
8) For the Orlando Magic, pace remains such a big key to their success.
9) The Boston Celtics’ wings are getting more creative as they feed and learn off each other, Taylor Snow of BostonCeltics.com writes.
10) The Orlando Magic are still struggling to rise their game to a playoff level.
11) The Boston Celtics are essentially locked into the No. 3 seed, Andrew Hughes of Hardwood Houdini writes.
12) The NBA is still trying to sort out what its future looks like as the calendar shifts for the 2021 season, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
13) The Orlando Magic are back down a position with Jonathan Isaac’s injury. And Aaron Gordon’s injury only makes the problem worse at power forward. The Magic are trying to remain resilient in the face of these injuries, Omar Cabrera writes.
14) Jaylen Brown took to Twitter to say Marcus Smart was the best defensive player in the league after his snub for the Defensive Player of the Year Award finalists.
15) Mohamed Bamba’s return has been slowed down by a positive COVID-19 test in June. Something he is still recovering from.
16) Kemba Walker said on a recent podcast with The Ringer that he nearly joined his hometown New York Knicks if they could have gotten another star.
17) The Orlando Magic’s historic scoring streak was no fluke, Spencer Henderson writes.