Celtics vs. Magic Betting Odds Revealed for 2025 NBA Playoff Bracket Round 1 Matchup
The Orlando Magic downed the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in tournament on Tuesday, setting up a first-round matchup against the No. 2-seeded Boston Celtics.
Unsurprisingly, the defending champs are the betting favorite.
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic Odds
- Straight up: Celtics -8000
- Series spread: Celtics -3.5
- Series ALT spread: Celtics -1.5 (-1600), Celtics -2.5 (-430), Celtics +1.5 (-20000), Magic -1.5 (+3000), Magic -2.5 (+7000), Magic -3.5 (+8000)
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
It's easy to understand why the Celtics are such heavy favorites to get out of the first round against the Magic as they pursue banner No. 19.
Boston boasts the second-best net rating in the league, behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder, per NBA.com. The Celtics have the No. 2 offensive rating and the No. 4 defensive rating, making them one of the most complete teams in the NBA.
Boston is led by the star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but also has several players capable of 30-plus-point outings like Derrick White and Kristaps Porziņģis. It's hard to argue that there is a team deeper than the Celtics this year.
But the Magic may not be an easy out, mainly because of their defense. Orlando has the second-best defensive rating in the NBA this year, and its starting lineup can match up against just about any team in the league.
What will likely hold the Magic back will be their offense, as they have the fourth-worst offensive rating in the league. They hit just 31.8 percent of their shots from deep this year, the worst mark in the NBA, and just 44.5 percent of their shots from the field, which ranks 27th.
Orlando seems to be a team on its way to competing in the playoffs with young stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner leading the way, but it might take another year before the Magic are ready to compete with top teams like the Celtics.
