Orlando Magic vs Boston Celtics

Prediction

• Orlando Magic: 35%
• Boston Celtics: 65%

Pick: Boston Celtics (Medium confidence)

Match context

Boston come in 4-1 on a four-game winning streak, their only defeat the opening night loss at Detroit. Orlando are 2-3, 0-2 at home, and badly short of players. Both teams played on Friday night and have had a day off, so rest is even.

Recent form

Boston beat New York 107-103, Chicago 134-99, Brooklyn 125-124 and Chicago again 125-111 after losing 121-113 at Detroit. Two of those wins were by four points or fewer. Orlando lost to Atlanta 132-125 and Minnesota 115-93, won at New York 111-102, were beaten 129-99 at Toronto and then went back to Toronto and won 121-114 two days later.

How they attack and defend

Boston have scored about 121 and allowed about 112 a game, and have scored 125 or more in three of their five. Orlando have scored about 110 and allowed about 118, and have conceded 115 or more in three of five. That gap of roughly 18 points in average margin is the main reason Boston are favoured.

Head to head

They have not met so far this season.

Key players and availability

Orlando are without Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac, Noah Penda and Izaiyah Nelson, according to Rotowire's lineup page for 1 November. The projected starters are Jase Richardson, Anthony Black, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter, which leaves Bane and Wagner to carry the scoring. Boston's Devin Carter is out and Mitchell Robinson is questionable. The projected starting five is Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Jordan Walsh and Robinson, with Tatum the player Orlando have most to worry about.

The edge

Boston are the pick. They are in form, Orlando have lost the two players who create most of their offence, and the Magic have not won at home yet. The risks are that this is only Boston's second road game of the season, the first being the opening-night loss at Detroit, and that Robinson's status leaves them thin at centre. Orlando have already won on the road at New York and Toronto this season, so a close game is possible if their shooting holds up.

Team news

• Banchero, Suggs and Isaac out for Orlando: Rotowire's lineup page for 1 November lists Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac, Noah Penda and Izaiyah Nelson as out.
• Robinson questionable, Carter out for Boston: Mitchell Robinson is listed as questionable and Devin Carter (mononucleosis, out since October) is out, per Rotowire's lineup page for 1 November.
• Celtics have won four straight: Boston lost the opener at Detroit 121-113 and have since beaten New York, Chicago twice and Brooklyn, the Brooklyn win by a single point.