Orlando Magic vs Boston Celtics NBA Pick & Preview

NBA Friday, Nov. 20 - 8 p.m. Eastern - ESPN Orlando Magic (7-3) at Boston Celtics (8-3)

After a tough, seven-game loss in the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals last season, the Boston Celtics will have their first chance at revenge Friday when they host the Orlando Magic. ESPN will televise the Magic-Celtics game at 8 p.m. Eastern as game one of its NBA Friday double-header; the Nuggets and the Clippers will play the second game at 10:30 p.m. Eastern.

Boston, as the 2008 defending NBA champion, built a 3-games-to-2 lead against Orlando in last season's semifinals, only to see the Magic rally to win the final two games, including a 101-82 Magic win against the Celtics in Game 7 at the TD Banknorth Garden. Orlando eventually lost to the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Friday's Magic-Celtics game will mark Orlando's first trip to Boston since that Game 7 win.

The Celtics opened this season 6-0 and 8-1 before losing against Atlanta and at Indiana on back to back nights. The Magic-Celtics game only will be Boston's second game in six days this week. Boston will host Golden State Wednesday.

Orlando is in the midst of a four-game home stretch, which it will finish with a Monday home game against Charlotte and a Wednesday home game against Oklahoma City. The Magic opened the season 3-0 and 5-1 before losing two of three games (102-74 at Oklahoma City and 102-93 at home against Cleveland).

The Magic has been very strong offensively this season, going 6-1 when scoring at least 90 points. Orlando is 1-2 when scoring fewer than 90 points. Boston has also been a solid scoring team, going 7-2 when scoring at least 90 points and going 1-1 when scoring fewer than 90 points.

Entering the Magic-Celtics game, Orlando is 6-4 ATS this season, but only 1-2 ATS in its last three road games. Boston is 5-6 ATS this season, but it has lost five of its last six games ATS. Boston is 1-3 ATS in its last four home games.

This will be the first of four regular-season meetings between the Magic and Celtics. They'll play again Dec. 25, 2009, at Orlando (on ABC); Jan. 28, 2010, at Orlando (on TNT); and Feb. 7, 2010, at Boston (on ABC).

The two teams were evenly matched throughout last season. The Magic and Celtics played 11 times last season in the regular season and postseason, with Orlando winning the season series, 6-5. The Celtics won six of the 11 games ATS, though. Orlando won three times as a road underdog in six tries at Boston last season.

May 17, 2009: Magic 101, at Celtics (-2.5) 82 May 14, 2009: at Magic (-7) 83, Celtics 75 May 12, 2009: at Celtics (-2) 92, Magic 88 May 10, 2009: Celtics 95, at Magic (-5) 94 May 8, 2009: at Magic (-5) 117, Celtics 96 May 6, 2009: at Celtics (-4) 112, Magic 94 May 4, 2009: Magic 95, at Celtics (-1.5) 90 March 25, 2009: at Magic (-3.5) 84, Celtics 82 March 8, 2009: Magic 86, at Celtics (-2.5) 79 Jan. 22, 2009: Celtics 90, at Magic (-4.5) 80 Dec. 1, 2008: at Celtics (-8.5) 107, Magic 88