Betting Guide for Magic vs Celtics Matchup on Jan 17: Odds, Picks, and Player Props to Consider

• The Orlando Magic are 12.5-point underdogs in Boston against the Celtics
• Boston has alternated between wins and losses in six straight games
• Below, see the Magic vs Celtics odds, player props and predictions for Jan. 17

Two teams trying to find a winning groove battle Friday night, as the Orlando Magic (23-19, 9-12 away) visit the Boston Celtics (28-12, 14-7 home). Riddled with injuries, the Magic have just four wins in their last 11, though it may be a little surprising to see they’re massive underdogs against the Celtics, who are coming off a loss to the lowly Raptors, and have alternated wins and losses in six straight. This one tips off at 7pm ET from TD Garden in Boston, with ESPN providing the broadcast coverage.

Orlando Magic vs Boston Celtics Odds

Boston is a hefty 12.5-point home favorite in Friday’s NBA odds, with the Magic a distant +525 on the moneyline. The game total is at 210.5. 

Odds as of Jan. 17 at BetMGM. Check out SBD’s BetMGM review to see the latest bonus code available for tonight’s NBA games.

Orlando is limping badly into Friday with Franz Wagner (oblique) and Jalen Suggs (back) already ruled out. That takes out the Magic’s second and third leading scorers behind Paolo Banchero. Also on the shelf are guards Jett Howard (ankle) and Gary Harris (hamstring), as well as big man Goga Bitadze (concussion).

Boston doesn’t have a player listed on its injury report for Friday.

ORL vs BOS Player Props

NBA player props as of January 17 at DraftKings. Claim the DraftKings promo code to bet on all the NBA action on Friday night. 

The Celtics had no starters hit the 20-point plateau at Toronto in a 110-97 loss, but the books are banking on Jayson Tatum rebounding. He went 5-for-15 for 16 points against the Raptors, but he’s owns the highest scoring prop Friday at 24.5. Jaylen Brown, who went 4-for-16 against Toronto for 10 points, is the only other Celtic over the teens, at 21.5 points.

Banchero has the highest scoring (24.5) and rebounding (6.5) prop for the Magic, while he, Tatum and Brown are all listed at the top assist prop at 4.5.

Magic vs Celtics Predictions

Orlando’s defense – which ranks second in the NBA in points allowed at 103.7 points per game – is real. No matter who is in or out of the lineup, the Magic defend. Even during this rough patch of the season, they are still limiting teams to 103 points per game.

They force the opposition into 17 turnovers per contest, and they cash in 19.7 points off those, tied for the 4th-best mark in the NBA.

Unfortunately, though, the offense has not been able to hold up its end of the bargain. Orlando is scoring just 96.7 points during this stretch, shooting 41.8% from the field and a lowly 29.7% clip from 3-point range. They have been held to under 100 points in six of their last seven losses.

Boston is figuring out what a reigning champ has to go through in a regular season grind that has all teams bringing their A games to the table each night.

🇺🇸 Jayson Tatum today highlights vs. Raptors:

🏀 16 POINTS
🏀 10 REBOUNDS
🏀 7 ASSISTS

Celtics lost to Raptors 97-110 ❌ pic.twitter.com/ixXByE2Bsw

— DV highlights (@DVhighlights) January 16, 2025

Since getting to 21-5 on December 15, the C’s have gone just 7-7 in their last 14, scoring just 112.9 points per game, a big dropoff from their 4th-best mark of 117.5. Like Orlando, though, they’ve kept the defense pretty tight, limiting teams to 106.8 points per game, on 44% shooting from the field.

Orlando owns the only win between these teams so far this season, a 108-104 rockfight, a game where the Wagner brothers and Banchero all missed due to injury and still held boston to 44% shooting and a miserable 8-for-33 from 3-point range (24.2%).

The spread should be the way to go, but Orlando just can’t score enough to take advantage of all those points the books are offering.

Instead, we’ll target the total as defense will show up. The Under has hit in six of the last seven head-to-head matchups. Orlando has gone Under the total in six of its last eight, while the Celts have an Under record of 5-1-0 in their last six.

Magic vs Celtics Picks:

• Under 210.5 (-105)
• Banchero Over 6.5 rebounds (-135)

The highly anticipated matchup between the Magic and Celtics on January 17th is sure to be a thrilling game for basketball fans and bettors alike. With both teams boasting talented rosters and a history of competitive play, this game is shaping up to be a close one. As you prepare to place your bets on this exciting matchup, here is a comprehensive betting guide to help you make informed decisions.

First, let’s take a look at the odds for this game. As of now, the Celtics are favored to win with odds of -150, while the Magic are the underdogs with odds of +130. This means that if you bet $150 on the Celtics and they win, you would make a profit of $100. On the other hand, if you bet $100 on the Magic and they win, you would make a profit of $130. Keep in mind that odds can change leading up to the game, so be sure to check for any updates before placing your bets.

When it comes to picking a winner for this game, both teams have their strengths and weaknesses to consider. The Celtics have been playing well recently and have a strong defense led by players like Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart. On the other hand, the Magic have shown flashes of brilliance this season and have a talented roster with players like Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier. Ultimately, this game could go either way, so it may be wise to consider betting on the underdog for a potentially higher payout.

In addition to picking a winner, there are also player props to consider for this game. Player props are bets placed on individual player performances, such as points scored, rebounds, assists, and more. For this matchup, you may want to consider player props for key players on both teams, such as Jayson Tatum for the Celtics and Nikola Vucevic for the Magic. Keep an eye on player statistics leading up to the game to help inform your prop bets.

Overall, the Magic vs Celtics matchup on January 17th is sure to be an exciting game for basketball fans and bettors alike. As you prepare to place your bets, be sure to consider the odds, picks, and player props mentioned in this guide to help you make informed decisions. Good luck!