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Highlights Video :
Preview
The Orlando Magic (18-29) have won only two out of their last ten matches, and their previous couple of home games resulted in defeat, most recently against the Chicago Bulls, 92-100. Nikola Vucevic led the Magic with 20 points and eight rebounds, Serge Ibaka followed him with 16 points, eight boards, three steals, and two blocks, while Aaron Gordon and Jeff Green combined for 26 points and 13 rebounds. Gordon and Ibaka are the Magic players to watch as they face favourable match-ups against Jaylen Brown and Jonas Jerebko, while Evan Fournier didn’t practice Thursday and is highly doubtful, so that means that Gordon will start at shooting guard again. D.J. Augustin is questionable, and Jodie Meeks is out for the season, which will reflect in a much weaker backcourt in this tilt.
The Boston Celtics (27-18) ended their negative run of three consecutive losses when they beat the Houston Rocket, 120-109, a couple of nights ago. Boston had over 50 percent from the field and posted 18 rebounds more than their opponents, 48-30. Isaiah Thomas led with 38 points, nine dimes, and five rebounds, Jae Crowder recorded a double-double of 23 points and ten boards, while Al Horford added 20 points, nine assists, three thefts, and two rejections. Thomas is the man to watch, as usual, but the Horford’s match-up in the paint against Vucevic might be kind of interesting. Jae Crowder will face a former Celtic, Jeff Green, in a battle of the current and the ex-Boston small forwards. Avery Bradley is unavailable to play on Friday, which will be his fifth straight game on the sidelines.
Keys to the game
Orlando Magic
The Magic have to take the basket to the rim because they are without the best three point shooters in the team, Fournier, Augustin, and Meeks, so they will not be as deadly from the outside as they are with them on the floor. Vucevic and Ibaka should be involved in plenty of points, especially from the interior, while the players such as Payton and Gordon can also penetrate through the defence.
Boston Celtics
Without Bradley, Brad Stevens knows that his main players are Thomas and Horford so the pair will be the most used in the attack. They attempted 42 shots and combined for 58 points against the Rockets, and if they have another 50-plus points display, the Celtics should not worry about the outcome. Jae Crowder is an integral part, both offensively and defensively, as he averages 18.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steal in last week, which makes him the possible man of the match in this clash.
Orlando Magic projected starting lineup
PG – Payton / SG – Gordon / SF – Green / PF – Ibaka / C – Vucevic.
Ibaka, Green, and Vucevic will lead the starters, but unless they receive adequate support from the bench (which hasn't been the case recently), Orlando is far from a victory.
Boston Celtics projected starting lineup
PG – Thomas / SG – Brown / SF – Crowder / PF – Jerebko / C – Horford.
Thomas and Horford will lead the Celtics on the scoreboard, while Marcus Smart will come off the bench to play an important role for the hosts.
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