Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers Preview
The Cavaliers have a chance to close out this first-round series on Friday night, as they lead the Magic 3-2 heading into game six. Tip-off is at 7:00 PM from the Kia Center in Orlando. ESPN is carrying the game on TV, and the current over/under line is 199 points. The Magic are favored by four points and are -174 on the money line. The Cavaliers are +144 on the money line.
Check out BetCoco for Orlando Magic – Cleveland Cavaliers odds
Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers Head-to-Head and Key Stats
Last season, the Cavaliers and Magic did not face off head-to-head. When looking back over the last three times these two teams have played, the Magic have the leg up at 2-1. The Magic also had the edge vs. the spread in these games, at 3-0. These games averaged a combined total of 204 points per game leading to an over/under record of 2-1.
- Across the Cavaliers last five road games, the team averaged 97 points per game while allowing 118. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 1-4, while going 0-5 straight-up.
- In their last five games at home, the Magic have a straight up record of 0-5 while going 1-4 vs. the spread. The team averaged 96 points per game in this stretch.
- Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the underdog, the Cavaliers have a straight up record of 2-8. Their record vs the spread in these games was 3-7.
- Spanning across their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Magic have gone 5-5 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 6-4.
Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction
The most recent game of this Magic vs. Cavaliers series was a close one, with Cleveland coming out on top by a score of 104-103. The Cavaliers were favored by 4.5 points and just missed covering the spread, as they won by one. Orlando had the edge in the 2nd quarter, outscoring Cleveland 24-15, and the game went over the over/under line of 202.5 points.
Paolo Banchero had a big game for the Magic, scoring 39 points and hitting four threes. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 28 points, but Cleveland shot just 43.2% from the field. Banchero’s 39 points were the most of any player in the game.
Today, the Cavaliers are looking to extend their road winning streak to four games, but they are currently 4-point underdogs. As the underdog, Cleveland has gone 11-20 this season and have failed to cover the spread in their last two games on the road.
On the season, the Cavs have an ATS record of 40-45 and are 19-22 ATS on the road. Their straight-up road record is 22-21, and they are 2nd in the Central Division and 4th in the Eastern Conference.
In terms of their O/U record, the Cavs are 43-43-1 for the season. Their games have averaged 221.2 points per game, compared to today’s O/U line of 199.
In their last game against the Magic, the Cavaliers won 104-103 as 4.5-point favorites. The teams combined for 207 points, and the O/U line for the game was 202.5.
Donovan Mitchell is averaging 26.6 points per game this season, which is the 5th best mark in the league. Over his last five games, he has hit just 41.7% of his shots from the field and 22.4 points per game. Mitchell is averaging 3.3 made threes per game this season. Darius Garland is averaging 18 points per game for the Cavaliers this season and 14.2 over his last five games.
For the season, the Cavaliers are averaging 112.6 points per game. This is the 23rd best mark in the league. Cleveland’s scoring average at home is 113.4, compared to 109.6 on the road. The team’s overall field goal percentage of 47% is 13th best in the league.
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 109.7. In terms of three-point defense, they have been solid, allowing opponents to shoot 36.7% from beyond the arc, which is 10th best in the league.
Over their last five games, the Cavaliers’ defense has been even better, giving up just 101 points per game. During that stretch, they have been especially good at defending the three-point line, holding opponents to just 31.5% shooting from deep.
One area where Cleveland has struggled defensively is in terms of blocked shots, as they rank just 21st in the NBA in that category. However, they have done a good job of defending inside the arc, allowing opponents to shoot just 52.5% on two-point attempts.
Orlando is favored by 4 points in today’s game against the Cavaliers. The Magic have won their last three games as the favorite and have a 31-9 record as the favorite this season. In these games, they have gone 28-12 against the spread, with an average scoring margin of +9.5 points per game.
The Magic’s O/U record for the season is 40-47, and their games have averaged 217.5 points per game. Today’s O/U line is set at 199, and 87 of their games have had higher O/U lines than that.
In their most recent game against the Cavaliers, the Magic lost by a score of 104-103. However, they covered the spread as 4.5-point underdogs. The teams combined for 207 points, and the O/U line for the game was 202.5.
Orlando’s record of 47-35 puts them in 5th place in the Eastern Conference. Within the Southeast Division, they are in 1st place. This season, the Magic have gone 32-20 against other teams in the East and 15-15 in non-conference games.
This season, the Magic have an ATS record of 54-33, including going 30-13 ATS at home. They have covered the spread in four straight home games and have an average scoring margin of +8.6 points per game at home.
Orlando comes into the game as the 25th ranked scoring offense, at 110.5 points per game. Their production has been a little better at home this year, as they are 20th in the league, at 112.8 points per contest. The Magic are also a below-average team in terms of pace, averaging 96.6 possessions per game. Looking at their three-point shooting, the Magic are last in the league in made threes, at 11 per game.
Paolo Banchero has been playing well of late, averaging 24.8 points per game over his last five games. In these games, he has hit 48.5% of his shots from the field and 2.2 threes per game. This season, he has hit 33.9% of his threes. Franz Wagner is averaging 20 points per game in his last five games, while Jalen Suggs is averaging 14.2 points per game in his last five, but he has hit just 24% of his threes in that stretch.
When it comes to defense, the Orlando Magic have been one of the best in the NBA this season, allowing just 107.6 points per game, which is the 2nd fewest in the league. At home, they have been even better, giving up just 104.1 points per game, which is also 2nd in the NBA.
Over their last five games, they have been even stingier, allowing just 93.8 points per game, which is 3rd in the league over that span. In terms of three-point shooting, opponents have struggled to find their range against the Magic, making just 35.2% of their attempts from beyond the arc, which is 4th in the NBA.
The Magic enter this game as 4-point favorites and in our projections and we anticipate them winning by a score of 108-107.
Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Tips
- Take the Magic on the moneyline
- On the spread, we like Cavaliers (+4)
- Projecting a combined 215 points, we like the over
Orlando Magic Injury Report
- Gary Harris – Hamstring – Questionable
Cleveland Cavaliers Injury Report
- Jarrett Allen – Rib – Questionable
- Ty Jerome – Ankle – Out
- Dean Wade – Knee – Out
- Craig Porter Jr. – Ankle – Out
