While many teams are still engaged in a fight for their playoff lives, there are several more who are already looking ahead to next season, and possibly beyond. When a team gets close to the playoff line but falls just short, there is always hope that a couple of offseason moves could potentially turn things around next year, but what about those teams that are horribly off the pace? For that group, the rebuilding process is likely to take a whole lot longer, unless they are willing to drop some major coin during free agency.
On Thursday night, we will get a match-up between a pair of teams on the opposite side of that scale. The Orlando Magic are still in with a shot at getting into the postseason in the Eastern Conference, but they need to start picking up wins in a bad way. They will welcome in the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that has been dead in the water since week 1. The Magic are in as a 7-point home favorite for this one, so they really need to take advantage of a lesser opponent.
Cavaliers vs Magic NBA Betting Lines & Game Analysis
Dangerous. Aggressive. Really fast. Competitive as any other young player in the league.
Some of the NBA’s best veteran point guards are taking notice of the skill set & potential of @cavs‘ @CollinSexton02. @CayleighGriffin gets their advice on developing into one of the best. pic.twitter.com/DANmE0IgYr — FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) 14 de marzo de 2019
- When: Thursday, March 14, 7 PM EST
- Where: Amway Center, Orlando
- TV: NBA TV
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- NBA Betting Lines: Orlando Magic -8.5 (Total 212.5)
Why bet on the Cleveland Cavaliers?
The Cleveland Cavaliers are not the worst team in the Eastern Conference, but with just 17 wins on the season, they are also not that far off the bottom. We all knew that there was going to be a transition period after LeBron James left for the Lakers, but I’m not sure anyone saw them falling off quite this dramatically.They have actually been a little bit better of late, though, playing .500 ball and going 5-5 in their last 10 games. The question here, though, is whether they can go on the road and get a win., After all, this is a team that has only picked up 6 wins outside of their own building. The Cavaliers have gone 15-16-1 ATS as a road underdog this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 104.00
- Field Goal Percentage: 44.02
- Three-Point Percentage: 36.09
- Free Throw Percentage: 79.14
- Total Rebounds: 42.74
Defense
- Total Score: 113.19
- Field Goal Percentage: 49.08
- Three-Point Percentage: 37.15
- Free Throw Percentage: 76.75
- Total Rebounds: 44.34
Why bet on the Orlando Magic?
The Orlando Magic are 7 games below .500 at 31-38, but given the nature of the Eastern Conference, they are still very much in the playoff picture. Heading into this one, the Magic are just 2 games back of the Miami Heat in the #8 spot, but Orlando is not really doing enough to apply any sort of meaningful pressure on the Heat, The Magic have now lost back to back games and have gone just 4-6 in their last 10.
With time running out on the season, that simply isn’t good enough for a team with designs on the postseason. The season series between these two has been split, but the Magic have won each of their last 2 home meetings with the Cavaliers. Orlando is 15-16-1 ATS in home games this season, the same record that Cleveland have as a road dog.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 105.58
- Field Goal Percentage: 44.99
- Three-Point Percentage: 35.41
- Free Throw Percentage: 78.12
- Total Rebounds: 44.81
Defense
- Total Score: 106.68
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.41
- Three-Point Percentage: 35.00
- Free Throw Percentage: 78.25
- Total Rebounds: 45.17
Cavaliers vs Magic NBA Betting Trends
- Cleveland is 18-6 ATS in its last 24 games when playing Orlando
- Cleveland is 3-16 SU in its last 19 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Cleveland’s last 9 games
- Orlando is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home
- Orlando is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Orlando’s last 5 games at home
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Cavaliers vs Magic
The truth about this game is that all of the pressure is on the shoulders of the Orlando Magic. I think they use home court to their advantage and get the win here in rather comfortable fashion, covering the spread in the process.Score: Cleveland Cavaliers 97 – Orlando Magic 109
