NBA Wednesday: Greg Frank picks Celtics vs Pacers and Lakers vs Magic — can Evan Fournier and Orlando cover the spread?

1-0 Tuesday, 41-42-1 overall.

Celtics (-1) @ Pacers (209.5)

Pick: Pacers +1

We might have gotten burned by Indiana on Monday, but you’re never supposed to hold grudges when handicapping. Fire where there’s value regardless and we like the Pacers again on Wednesday. Boston ran right through Indiana last year in the first round, sweeping the Pacers and advancing to the conference semifinals. Granted, Kyrie Irving is no longer in shamrock green, but this is still a revenge spot for the Pacers on their home floor. Also, this line probably looks short right? Indiana has lost two of its last three and barely survived in the win against the Knicks on Saturday. Meanwhile, Boston has won four straight by nine or more points. At 17-5, only Milwaukee has a better record in the East right now than the Celtics. It feels like the books are begging you to take the Celtics laying only one point and we’re not sure it’s that easy.

Lakers (-8.5) @ Magic (212)

Pick: Magic +8.5

I get it, stepping in the front of the Lakers right now might not be a good idea. Sometimes, the best bets are the hardest ones to make though. The Lakers are the ultimate public team right now in the NBA. A big market team with a pair of superstars on national TV a bunch is going to garner a lot of market support. Normally after those teams experience the kind of success the Lakers have, the market readjusts, and the public team gets expensive. Don’t look now but Orlando is quietly 4-1 both straight-up and ATS in its last five games. On Monday, the Magic covered a huge spread in Milwaukee, losing to the Bucks by nine. Can they lose to the Lakers at home by less than that? The way they’ve been playing of late suggests they can. It’s always better to be first to the party on the market readjustment than last on the bandwagon of a team like the Lakers. Give us the Magic and the points.

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