NBA Playoff Betting: Can Magic Stay Alive vs. Celtics at Home?

Going into Game Four, many NBA betting and sports betting fans figured the Orlando Magic were already done.

The Celtics had beaten them up and down the court and covered the sports betting odds easily in their big wins despite being the NBA betting underdogs going into the series.

The Magic were stunned and a sweep looked very likely. But Orlando proved it still had some fight left in Game Four with a big overtime victory that sent the Boston faithful home stunned.

Orlando has a lot more work to do before it can make the Celtics and their fans sweat again, however, and it starts tonight at home in an elimination game for the Magic.

Boston Celtics (11-4 playoff record) at Orlando Magic (9-3)

Eastern Conference Finals Game Five

8:30 pm ET, ESPN

NBA betting line: Magic favored at -4

The Celtics and their fans were a bit embarrassed as a number of “Beat LA!” t-shirts were circulating during Game Four in Boston. Now, the Celtics still need to close out the Magic before they can reach the NBA Finals and the Lakers are deadlocked in a 2-2 series with the upstart Suns in the West.

That is just one reason why Boston got a little complacent in Game Four against the Magic. To be able to win tonight Boston will need to check their egos and get ready for what should be a crazy home crowd for the Magic and also an energetic effort from Dwight Howard and company.

An energized, desperate Dwight Howard is trouble for anyone but the Celtics have enough big bodies to throw at him to slow him down. Looking at the stats from Game Four, each category is close to identical but the Magic made 10 threes to 5 threes for the Celtics. That suggests that Boston’s problems are easily correctable going into Game Five in Orlando.

If Boston can defend the three-point line better, sports betting fans will see them turn it around and cover the NBA betting spread on the road. A close loss is possible but sports betting fans should feel confident that Boston will at least make this one close if not win outright.

NBA betting pick: Boston Celtics (+4).