Indiana Pacers at Orlando Magic
Time: 6 PM ET, Feb 9, 2014
Spread: IND -8.5
M/L: IND -400; ORL +300
Total: 191
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
Wins have been rare for the 15-37 Orlando Magic, but the team got an unexpected surprise when it upset the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-102 on Friday (Feb 7) night. The Magic won the game on a buzzer beating dunk by Tobias Harris, who finished the game with 18 points. The Magic will face another very tough test in the Eastern Conference leading Pacers, and NBA oddsmakers are not giving the Magic much of a chance. Indiana is favored by 8.5-points in the NBA odds at Bovada.
Arron Afflalo of the Magic has had a great year thus far and is averaging 19.8 points per game. Reasonably, Afflalo could have made the All-Star team but Orlando’s poor record hurt any chance he had of making his first bid. Victor Oladipo is improving and cutting down on turnovers, and the rookie is averaging 13.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game in 32 minutes a night.
Harris has been a bit of a disappointment after flourishing so well in Orlando following his arrival late last season, but he is still Orlando’s third leading scorer and averages 13.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
Only one Orlando player (Afflalo) posts an above-average PER, so the team’s struggles are fairly easy to trace. The Magic will look towards a high draft pick in the 2014 draft, but as to what path Magic GM Rob Hennigan will go with the pick is unclear.
The Pacers are 39-10 and won 118-113 in overtime against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday (Feb 7) night. George Hill rose to the occasion in matching up with Damian Lillard, as Hill went for 37 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Lillard put up 38 of his own points, but David West also had 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers who improved to 24-2 at home on the season.
The Pacers get it done with “D,” but have a strong rotation that can score the ball. Luis Scola has been used somewhat sparingly, but can make big contributions at times. The same applies for C.J. Watson and the emergent Danny Granger. The Pacers best strength is that its starting five features all above-average defenders.
Lance Stephenson is a poor man’s Dwyane Wade and Paul George is one of the best two-way players in the league. Roy Hibbert seems to play his best ball against Miami, so that will benefit the Pacers in the playoffs, even if his 12 point and 7.7 rebound averages leave something to be desired.
IND Trends: 0-4 ATS in last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in previous game; UNDER 8-1 in last 9 vs teams with losing SU records; 6-1 ATS in last 7 vs teams with winning percentages below .400.
ORL Trends: OVER 4-0 in last 4 home games vs teams with road winning percentages greater than .600; 6-0 ATS in last 6 home games; UNDER 4-0 in last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in previous game..
Head-to-head: UNDER 4-1 in last 5 meetings.
