BOS takes on Magic on ABC this afternoon

The Magic (27-18, 10-8 home) host the team with the best record in the NBA, BOS (34-7, 15-3 road), in a nationally televised affair. After getting off to one of the best starts in league history at 29-3, the Celtics are just 5-4 since, and are coming off a close 87-86 home win over MIN on FRI, with Kendrick Perkins leading BOS with 21 pts.

The probable starting lineup for BOS:

G... Rajon Rondo (9.1 ppg)
G... Ray Allen (18.1 ppg)
F... Paul Pierce (20.3 ppg, 5.6 rebs)
F... Kevin Garnett (19.2 ppg, 9.9 rebs)
C... Kendrick Perkins (7.5 ppg, 5.7 rebs)

Top reserves... Eddie House (8.0 ppg); James Posey (7.0 ppg); Tony Allen (6.0 ppg); Glen "Big Baby" Davis (4.5 ppg)

BOS is averaging 99.0 ppg while allowing 88.0 ppg; ORL is averaging 103.4 ppg while allowing 100.2 ppg.

The Magic gave the Celtics their first loss of the season back in NOV, and are one of the few teams to score 100+ pts against BOS. The Magic have not lost to BOS at home since NOV of 2004, but the Celtics are 3 pt favorites over the Magic (www.pinnaclesports.com).