Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers
Time: 7:05 PM ET, Feb 19, 2014
Spread: CLE -6.5
Total: 199
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The Orlando Magic (16-39) notched a couple impressive victories over Indiana and Oklahoma City prior to the All-Star break, but all it took to put the team back on its losing ways was another road trip. The Magic fell last night in Milwaukee and will take on the Cavs on the second night of a back-to-back tonight. Though Cleveland isn’t an especially good team at home (14-14), NBA oddsmakers are favoring the Cavs by 6.5 points over the Magic.
The Magic are poor across the board statistically: its offense ranks 24th in the NBA scoring just 96.1 points per game while the defense surrenders 101.4 (18th in NBA). The Magic are heavily reliant on 2-guard Arron Afflalo, who is having a career year. His averages of 19.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists easily could have made him an All-Star, but the coaches selected Brooklyn’s Joe Johnson.
Tobias Harris has been a bit of a disappointment, but he is second on the Magic in scoring with 13.7 points per game. And No. 2 overall pick from the 2013 draft Victor Oladipo is proving to be an athletic, well-rounded guard. Oladipo is posting 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in 31 minutes a night.
The Cavs (21-33) got an easy victory over the pitiful Philadelphia 76ers last night (Tues), winning 114-85, as Tyler Zeller went for 18 points and 15 rebounds. Zeller was averaging just 13.3 minutes per game on the season, but he played 25 in the game, as he started for Anderson Varejao (sore back). Varejao is not expected to play tonight against Orlando, and Dion Waiters is likely out too (knee).
The Cavs rested the starters a good vitas the most minutes seen in the game was Luol Deng’s 28. This was likely done in preparation for this second of a back-to-back, and it should be expected that Anthony Bennett, Alonzo Gee and the Cavs reserves will see increased minutes in this one.
ORL Trends: UNDER 5-0 in last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in previous game; 1-4 ATS in last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in previous game; 5-16 ATS in last 21 road games.
CLE Trends: 4-0 ATS in lsat 4 vs teams with losing SU records; 4-0 ATS in last 4 following SU win; 5-0 ATS in last 5 games overall.
Head-to-head: Magic 0-5-1 ATS in last 6 meetings; UNDER 4-1 in last 5 meetings in Cleveland; Magic 1-3-1 ATS in last 5 meetings in Cleveland.
