The Magic will look to get back into this series as the Cavaliers are currently up 2-0 in this first-round Eastern Conference matchup. Tip-off is at 7:00 PM ET from the Kia Center in Orlando and can be seen on NBA TV. The over/under line is sitting at 198.5 points, and the Magic are favored by 2.5 points. On the money line, Orlando is at -129, while the Cavaliers are at +107.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS VS ORLANDO MAGIC BETTING PICK

The Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers +2.5

This game will be played at Kia Center at 7:00 ET on Thursday, April 25th.

WHY BET THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 112-106 in favor of the Cavaliers.
  • Our projections have Donovan Mitchell finishing with Donovan Mitchell points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
  • From the field, we have the Cavaliers finishing with a field goal percentage of 48.1% and knocking down 16 threes.

Cleveland was able to take a 96-86 win over the Magic in the most recent game of this series. The Cavs were favored by 5.5 points and easily covered the spread. The over/under line was 205.5 points, and the teams fell well short of that number with a combined 182 points. Cleveland got off to a quick start, outscoring the Magic 30-18 in the first quarter.

Neither team shot the ball well from deep in this game. The Cavs made just 12 threes on 30.8% shooting, and the Magic made only nine threes on 25.7% shooting. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 23 points, and Paolo Banchero had 21 points for the Magic.

Can Cleveland Pull Off A Win at Kia Center?

Today, the Cavaliers are 2.5-point underdogs against the Magic. As the underdog, Cleveland has gone 11-18 this season and has lost their last six games straight up as the underdog.

The Cavs’ ATS record for the season is 40-42, and they have covered the spread in their last two games. On the road, their ATS record is 19-20, and they have an average scoring differential of +0.9 points per game.

In their most recent game against the Magic, the Cavaliers won by a score of 96-86. They were also favored by 5.5 points in that game. The O/U line for that game was 205.5 points.

This season, the Cavaliers have an O/U record of 41-42-1, and their games have averaged 221.9 points per game. Today’s O/U line of 198.5 is lower than all of their previous games this season.

The Cavaliers finished the regular season with a record of 48-34, which is good for 4th place in the Eastern Conference. Against other Eastern Conference teams, they went 31-21 and 17-13 against the West.

Donovan Mitchell has been carrying the Cavaliers offense of late, averaging 28.8 points per game over his last four games. In these games, he shot 47.1% from the field and 3.5 threes per game. For the season, he is averaging 26.6 points and 3.3 threes per game. Jarrett Allen has also been playing well for the Cavs, averaging 18.2 points on 72.2% shooting in his last five games. In these games, he also pulled down 13.6 rebounds.

Cleveland is averaging 112.6 points per game this season, which is 21st in the league. Their home scoring average is 113.7 points per game, compared to 110.8 on the road. Looking at their field goal percentage, the Cavs are 12th in the league, at 47%.

So far this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ defense has been one of the best in the NBA, ranking 7th in points allowed per game at 109.6. They have been especially good on the road, where they have given up just 109.9 points per game, which is 4th in the league.

Over their last five games, the Cavaliers have been even better on the defensive end, giving up just 101.4 points per game, which is 2nd in the NBA over that span. During this stretch, opponents have shot just 42.1% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.

On the season, opponents have made just 36.7% of their three-point attempts vs. the Cavaliers, which is 10th in the league. However, they have been giving up 21.2 made free throws per game, which is 12th in the NBA.

Will the Magic Make it Happen at Home?

Orlando is favored by 2.5 points today and has a record of 29-9 as the favorite this season. In the Eastern Conference, the Magic are currently 5th with a record of 47-35.

In their last game against the Cavaliers, the Magic lost by a score of 96-86. They were 5.5-point underdogs in that game and are now 18-28 as the underdog this season.

The Magic have lost their last two games straight-up and are 51-33 against the spread this season. At home, they are 28-13 ATS and have covered the spread in their last two games at home.

This season, the Magic have an O/U record of 38-46, and their games have averaged a combined 218 points. Today’s O/U line of 198.5 is lower than all of their previous games this season.

In the Eastern Conference, the Magic are 32-20 compared to 15-15 in non-conference games. Their ATS record against the East is 23-20 on the road and 28-13 at home.

Orlando comes into the game as the NBA’s 27th-ranked scoring offense, at 110.5 points per game. They are also near the bottom of the league in pace, averaging just 96.6 possessions per game. The Magic’s average of 112.6 points per game at home is 20th in the league. One reason for their low three-point attempt rate is that they are 28th in the league in three-point attempts.

Paolo Banchero is averaging 22.6 points per game over his last five games, hitting 42.1% of his shots from the field. In these games, he also averaged 8.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists. Over his last four games, Franz Wagner is averaging 21.2 points and 6.2 rebounds. Jalen Suggs is averaging 39.7% from beyond the arc this season.

When it comes to defense, the Orlando Magic have been one of the best units in the NBA this season. They are currently ranked 4th in the league in points allowed per game at 108.2. At home, they have been even stingier, giving up just 105.0 points per contest, which is 2nd in the NBA.

One of the reasons why the Magic have been so effective on defense is their ability to defend the three-point line. On the season, they are 4th in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage allowed at 35.5%. In terms of steals, Orlando is 5th in the league at 8.2 per game.

Over their last five games, the Magic have been even better on the defensive end, giving up just 104.6 points per contest. During this stretch, they have been able to hold opponents to just 33.9% shooting from behind the arc.