Utah Jazz at Orlando Magic
Wednesday, 11/10/10, 8:00 PM EST; TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: -10.5
Current Betting Line: -10.5
Opening Total: 195
Current Total: 194
Utah has won four of five games after dropping two contests to open the season and came back from a 22-point second-quarter deficit to capture a 116-114 overtime win in Miami last night. “I’m speechless, to be down like that to a team like this and to come out with a win,” said forward Paul Millsap. “We clawed our way out of it. But this says a lot about our team.” The Jazz power forward scored a career-high 46 points, including three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter’s final minute. Point guard Deron Williams had been suffering from lower back pain for most of the season, but looked to be at full speed by adding 21 points and 14 assists while playing 43 minutes. It was an impressive showing due to logging 54 minutes in Saturday’s double-overtime victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. The team is 3-4 ATS this season and 10-11 ATS versus Southeast division opponents. Make sure to check out the NBA lines page before making your choice on tonight’s games.
The Jazz own a 24-19 all-time advantage over the Orlando Magic with a 14-7 record at home and 10-12 mark on the road. Utah’s averaging 117.5 points in its four wins this season compared to 86.7 in three defeats. This is a highly-discouraging stat leading into tonight’s contest due to playing the second game of a back-to-back set following a highly-emotional overtime tilt. Utah has dropped six of its last seven meetings in Orlando and will likely have a tough time stopping the Magic from running their home record to a perfect 5-0 for the fourth time in franchise history.
Orlando comes in off a 93-89 home win over the Atlanta Hawks led by All-Star center Dwight Howard’s game-high 27 points. The Magic overcome a 13-point first-half deficit at the sold-out Amway Center due to his strong play, with teammates missing 18 of 22 from long range. “That’s what great teams do and we want to be a great team,” said Howard. “In order to do that, we have to take a team’s best punches and then throw back and I think we did that tonight.” Orlando is currently 4-0 at home this season in its first season at the new venue and has an average margin of victory of 22.5 points per game. During the club’s three-plus season under head coach Stan Van Gundy, the Magic are averaging 102.7 points per game. The squad is 38-26 ATS after three or more consecutive wins.
The Magic set a record by making 841 3-pointers in 2009-10 by shooting at an impressive 37.5 percent rate. It’s likely the team will not reach those numbers during this year’s season, making 52 shots from beyond the arc in six games, but are shooting only 32.3 percent. “Our shots are going to fall as long as we’re playing hard and with some energy, then we’re going to be in every game,” said guard J.J. Redick. Defensively, Orlando is allowing just 88.7 points per game, following a season of giving up 95.3 a contest.
Bettors will be interested in the Jazz being 19-6-1 ATS versus the Eastern Conference, while the Magic are 10-3-1 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
The 2010-11 hardcourt season is getting into full swing and the NBA handicappers at Maddux Sports are ready to play ball!
