Boston Celtics Begin Title Defense in 2025 NBA Playoffs

Boston Celtics Begin Title Defense in 2025 NBA Playoffs

Boston finished with the third-best record in the NBA. But they were in the red against the oddsmakers after being one of the most profitable teams on the board in the previous season. Thus, it was fair of gamblers to believe that the Celtics were suffering from a championship NBA betting hangover. Still, Boston opened as one of the top favorites for the 2025 NBA championship. In the 2023-24 season, the Boston Celtics dominated the entire way and ended up as NBA champions. Now, the Celtics, while still good, were not quite as dominant.

2025 NBA Playoffs First Round Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic

Date and Time:Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 7 p.m. ET.
Location:TD Garden, Boston, MA.
TV Coverage:TNT
Odds at SBG Sportsbook
TeamSpreadTotalML
Orlando Magic+10½ -110196½ -110+405
Boston Celtics-10½ -110196½ -110-533
Bet Now on this Game

Boston Celtics Series Schedule

  • Game 2: Orlando Magic at Celtics | Wednesday, April 23, 7 p.m. | TNT
  • Game 3: Celtics at Orlando Magic | Friday, April 25, 7 p.m. | ESPN
  • Game 4: Celtics at Orlando Magic | Sunday, April 27, 7 p.m. | TNT
  • Game 5: Orlando Magic at Celtics | TBD*
  • Game 6: Celtics at Orlando Magic | TBD*
  • Game 7: Orlando Magic at Celtics | TBD*

Boston Celtics Head Coach

Head coach Joe Mazzulla took over on an interim basis for the 2022-23 season and has proven to be the right man for the job. Previously, he led the Celtics to the 2024 NBA championship. He has a career online wagering record of 182-64.

Boston Celtics Key Players

C Kristaps Porzingis was the 4th overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft out of Latvia. Also, he was an NBA All-Star in 2018 and was a key asset on the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards. Correlate that this year, Porzingis averaged 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

SF Jayson Tatum was the third overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft out of Duke. Tatum is a 6-time NBA All-Star and was on the ACC All-Freshman team for Duke. Also, he was a McDonald’s All-American and Gatorade National Player of the Year. This season, Tatum averaged 26.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest. So too is Tatum is a 2025 NBA All-Star.

SG Jaylen Brown was the third overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft out of California. Additionally, he is a 4-time NBA All-Star and was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year at Cal. Brown was a McDonald’s All-American. Brown is a 2025 NBA All-Star. This season he averaged 22.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in 2024-25.

Boston Celtics Record, Metrics & History

Overall, Boston’s NBA betting metrics were 8th for scoring offense, 19th for field goal percentage, 10th for 3-point field goal percentage, 6th for free throw percentage, and 8th for offensive rebounding. On defense, the Celtics’ metrics were 2nd for scoring defense, 2nd for field goal percentage permitted, 3rd for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 13th for defensive rebounding.

The Boston Celtics’ final regular season record was 61-31 straight up, 38-43-1 against the spread, and 37-44-1 over/under the total. In sum, Boston was second in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, three games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 1990s were largely a down decade for this franchise as M.L. However, the Celtics won their 17th NBA title in 2008, with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen all playing big roles. The Boston Celtics continually vie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the honor of being the most successful team in the history of the NBA. In sum, Boston has won 18 NBA championships.