Orlando looking for more magic in Cleveland

We have often heard about sports imitating life, where certain events run along a course that is every similar to what goes on in people lives. The Orlando Magic is in one such position tonight playing in Cleveland tonight. The Magic are tied with Boston in the loss column with 17 defeats and trail Cleveland by four games. A win helps them stay on course for second seed in the Eastern Conference and sends a statement to the Cavaliers, whose only other home loss was to the Lakers this season.

Orlando (49-17) is the best betting team in the NBA at 43-23 against the spread. Among their strengths is ability to play extraordinarily well on the road. The Magic are second only to the Lakers with 23-10 mark as visitors and sterling 23-10 ATS record as visitor. Too understand just how good Orlando has been on the road, the next five teams among the top six of road spread teams are 39-123, which is a 24 percent winning percentage, meaning they are catching a load of points. Conversely, Dwight Howard’s team is 9-3 and 10-2 ATS as road underdog and awfully impressive 14-7 and 13-8 ATS as road favorite.

Don’t expect Cleveland (53-13, 41-25 ATS) to be intimidated, since they are 29-1 and 22-8 ATS at Quicken Loans Arena, winning by 14.8 points per game, the best in the league by over three points a contest.

“They’re a very good road team. We’re a very good home team,” LeBron James said. “We’re looking forward to the challenge and I bet those guys are looking forward to the challenge also.”

With Orlando second in three-point attempts and third in percentage made at 38.8 percent, Cleveland is 12-3 ATS at home versus good three-point shooting teams making 36 percent or more of their attempts.

“We know how good of a team we are at home,” James said. “We take it personal and want to win every game on our home court.”

As Cleveland has been climbing the ladder to achieve the success they have since James arrival, Orlando has had a little magic over them. The Magic have won seven of last nine meetings and are 8-1 ATS. That includes having few problems in the city of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with 3-1 and 4-0 spread mark.

The Cavaliers will want to pressure point guard Rafer Alston, who is fitting better into Orlando offense, as they have won seven of last eight contests. By applying pressure to Alston, it might prevent the Magic from dumping the ball to Howard and having three point shooters find open areas on kick-out passes. Orlando is 25-9 ATS after having won four of their last five games.

Bookmaker.com has Cleveland as six-point favorite with a total of 193.5. The Cavaliers are 14-5 ATS in home games after playing three consecutive games as favorites this season and 10-1 UNDER in March home games since last year. Orlando is 9-1 ATS as a road underdog of six points or less and 8-1 UNDER after scoring 100 points or more three straight games this season.
This Eastern powers conflict will commence at 7:05 Eastern and be viewable in local markets. These two clubs have played UNDER seven of last nine times.