Magic at Celtics storylines, odds, how to watch info: Paolo Banchero is back to face defending champs

About halfway through this NBA season, few teams have scrapped for respect like these Orlando Magic.

Despite a litany of injuries up and down its rotation, Jamahl Mosleys group is fifth in the East and firmly ensconced in the playoff picture.

Theyve absolutely earned this proving ground a Friday night nationally-televised trip to the defending champion Boston Celtics.

Advertisement Despite a comparatively funky 7-7 stretch in their last 14 games, the Celtics are still top-seven in points for, points against, offensive and defensive ratings.

Its not quite looking as effortless as it did in the fall Sundays 120-119 win over the Pelicans saw Boston shoot an uncharacteristic 29.5 percent on 3-pointers, while Wednesdays 110-97 loss to the lowly Raptors was very awkward if not worrisome.

But this is still one of the toughest home outs in the league on any given night.

Orlando won the first meeting between these two, a turnover-laden 108-104 game on Dec.

23.

The Celtics were without Jayson Tatum in that one; the Magic had both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner on ice.

Both players should be locked in for Friday.

In three outings since his return from an oblique injury, Banchero is averaging 25.3 points in 26.5 of floor time, with nice 49/47/77 shooting splits.

Tatums splits in January are down to 43/31/80 and hes averaging three turnovers per game since the start of the New Year.

Both teams slate in the bottom-third for pace of play.

Both sides tout sharp defenses.

The differentiator will come along the perimeter Orlando is last in 3-pointers made and Boston is first.

No team defends the long ball better than the Magic, with opponents just 30.7 percent from behind the arc.

From Law Murrays power rankings: Orlando (9) The Magic arent quite on pace to hit their preseason win total of 47.5, but to be close to it despite only having Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner together for five games is outstanding work by coach Jamahl Mosley.

Only the Thunder defend better than Orlando, a physically imposing team that has understood for the past few seasons that it is only winning most games when the score is low.

Banchero is back from his oblique injury, so the worst of the offensive doldrums is hopefully in the rearview mirror.

Advertisement Boston (3) The Celtics are very good this season! But unlike the Cavaliers and Thunder, Boston is meeting expectations rather than exceeding them.

I do want to call out something that makes the Celtics less powerful than their perception.

When I compiled the Team Shooting Rankings last month , the Celtics barely stayed in the top 10.

Yes, Boston attempts 3s at a historic rate right now.

But only the Thunder had a better 3-point percentage than the Celtics last season.

So far this season, the Celtics are 15th in the NBA in 3-point percentage.

Those cold snaps have left Boston more vulnerable than they did a year ago.

Starting five of players to wear both jerseys (minimum 50 games with each franchise) Magic vs.

Celtics odds (Photo of Paolo Banchero: Stacy Revere / Getty Images).

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