Surging Celtics favoured to extend Magic’s losing streak in NBA
Published:
Daniel Coyle, American Sports Correspondent | January 29, 2016
The Boston Celtics will be looking to extend Orlando’s current seven-game losing streak with their fifth straight win when they host the Magic in the first game of a home-and-home series on Friday as 8.5-point favourites in NBA betting with Coral.
Overview
Boston has claimed seven straight up wins in nine games during their current hot streak, ending a brutal 1-6 SU start to 2016, and lifting them back into the NBA playoff picture and sole possession of fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Conversely, the Magic find themselves closing out January in free-fall, SU losers in 11 of 12 contests this month, covering the spread on just two occasions, and going winless ATS in their past five.
Despite their current struggles, Orlando has put points on the scoreboard in recent outings, averaging 106 points per game over their past three, but have surrendered almost 112 points per game during that stretch.
The Celtics emerged victorious in each of their past two road contests, but are a middling 3-5 SU, 2-5-1 ATS, in their past eight, but battle a Magic squad that is winless SU in their past five on their home floor.
Brooklyn Nets @ Dallas Mavericks (-9.5)
Dallas Mavericks will try to end a three-game ATS losing streak when they return home from a four-day, three-game road swing to face the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night as 9.5-point chalk in American basketball betting.
Mavs’ recent struggles with consistency continued on their recent trip to Houston, Los Angeles, and Golden State, sandwiching a slim 92-90 win over the Lakers between lopsided losses to the Rockets and Warriors, dropping them to 4-6 SU at ATS in their past 10, and into sixth place in the Western Conference standings.
The Nets, meanwhile, have carried their nightmarish season over into 2016, going a brutal 3-11 SU in 14 games since New Year’s Day, including four blowout losses on the road.
Brooklyn’s current 2-10-1 ATS run has also decimated the club’s strong early-season ATS record, which sat at 20-13 in last December.
The club dropped a disappointing 119-118 decision to the Mavs at home just before Christmas, but has otherwise enjoyed success against Dallas, going 5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS, in their previous seven meetings, including SU wins in their past four visits to American Airlines Center.
Nets wrap up the weekend with a visit to New Orleans on Saturday, where they battle the Pelicans, while the Mavs host the fading Phoenix Suns on Sunday before traveling to Atlanta for a date with the Hawks on Monday.
In other NBA betting action at Coral, the Cleveland Cavaliers shoot for a third straight SU win when they visit the Detroit Pistons as 4.5-point chalk, the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Rockets as 7.5-point favourites, while the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Utah Jazz as 7.5-point underdogs.
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