The Boston Celtics are six games back from first place in the Eastern Conference, and they will be happy to simply grind out a win against Orlando Magic in what could be a close contest.
Both teams could use a win at TD Garden. Boston is coming off a disappointing 13-point loss to the Toronto Raptors, while the Magic are 4-6 in their last 10 games.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' dominance this season has changed the narrative in the Eastern Conference and Boston is now starting to look average by comparison.
The reigning and defending NBA Champions are still the favorites to repeat - they are +225 with Oklahoma City at +260 - but early-season enthusiasm for the Celtics is definitely waning.
Second in the East with a 28-12 record, few would dare bet against a Boston-Cleveland conference final. That would provide a chance for the Celtics to show the new kids on the block (and everyone else for that matter) who's the boss.
But more worryingly, they are 7-7 over their last 14 games and arrive at the Garden on the back of a 110-97 humbling in Toronto. The offense that had been the best in the league has been held to under 100 points in three of its last five games.
"We're not playing our best basketball," was head coach Joe Mazzulla's verdict following the setback against the Raptors where the Celtics went 16-for-46 from their beloved 3-point territory and mustered just 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Remember that when the Raptors played Boston the last time - on December 31 - the Canadians went down by a franchise record 54 points. Boston needs to get it together in this matchup against Orlando and the Celtics will be encouraged that the Magic (23-19) are also going through a rocky patch.
The Magic have lost three of their last four, though two of those were to the Milwaukee Bucks, which helped Milwaukee leapfrog Orlando into the top four in the East.
Their latest loss to the Bucks - 122-93 - was built on yet another bad shooting performance from deep. The Magic were 12/46 (26 percent) from three-point range, the 21st time this season they have shot below 30 percent from downtown.
Orlando needs to find more ways of getting to the basket because clearly the long-range attempts aren't falling. Presumably, with a talking-to from coach Jamahl Mosley ringing in their ears, they will apply more pressure at the Garden.
They beat Boston in Orlando in their previous meeting this season - a 108-104 success on December 23rd - and can run the champions close. Bet the underdogs on the spread.
Orlando is allowing fewest points per game (103.7) in the Eastern Conference and, given Boston's offense has looked flat recently, this probably won't be a high-scoring contest.
Jayson Tatum certainly struggled in Toronto on Wednesday with 16 points and shooting just 3/9 from three-point range. The team as a whole were sub-35 percent from three, a shadow of where they were earlier in the season.
The Magic are sure to produce a better defensive effort than they did against Milwaukee last time, and they can keep Tatum to modest numbers.
The Boston star was scoring over 28 points per game up to Christmas - he's been averaging 24.4 since.
He can have his big games but those are less reliable. Snap up the -115 that he goes Under 39.5 points, rebounds and assists.
Boston is allowing 108.7 points per game which encourages the idea that someone like Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. can muscle in over 9.5 points.
Orlando needs to find Carter around the basket more, given how bad are they as a unit from three-point range, and the 6-foot-9 vet from Duke can do the rest.
He is averaging 9.6 points in his last 10 games, posted 11 against Boston in Florida last month. Carter can clear 9.5 at the TD Garden.
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Boston Celtics | -750 ML |
Orlando Magic | +525 ML |
Spread | BOS Celtics -12.5 |
Total Points | O/U 210.5 |
Jaylen Brown (BOS Celtics) | O/U 21.5 |
Jayson Tatum (BOS Celtics) | O/U 25.5 |
Kristaps Porzingis (BOS Celtics) | O/U 17.5 |
Cole Anthony (ORL Magic) | O/U 14.5 |
Paolo Banchero (ORL Magic) | O/U 24.5 |
Wendell Carter Jr (ORL Magic) | O/U 9.5 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.