It’s Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs series between the Magic and the Cavaliers. The top sportsbooks have released their NBA odds and, for your NBA best bets, I will recommend investing in the Cavaliers.
If you’re looking to bet on any of the other matchups for Saturday, check out our video analysis, which includes a look at Suns vs. Timberwolves and 76ers vs. Knicks.
Also, if you’re considering placing bets on these matchups, continue reading for a detailed analysis.
NBA Pick: Cavaliers -4.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Saturday, April 20, 2024 – 01:00 PM ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Orlando’s Composure
The Magic are a young team that’s often struggling to compete in games that matter. These struggles have particularly manifested in their road games down the final stretch of the regular season.
Most recently, in Orlando’s last four road games, it gave up:
- 124 points to Charlotte
- 118 to Houston
- 117 to Milwaukee
- 125 to Philadelphia
Orlando lost all four of those games by at least nine points.
Cleveland’s Shooting At Home
Location will be paramount to the outcome for this game not only because of Orlando’s road struggles but also because of Cleveland’s shot-making.
At home, the Cavaliers shoot monumentally better than they do on the road. Their home three-point conversion rate is 38.1 percent. If this were an overall season statistic, they would rank sixth in three-point percentage.
Cleveland’s Three-Point Shooting
Three-point shooting is especially important for tonight’s game because Cleveland loves to shoot threes. The Cavaliers attempt the eighth-most threes per game.
Look out, among others, for Donovan Mitchell, who is shooting 9-for-20 from deep in his last two games. Fellow starter Max Strus is making over 40 percent of his three-point attempts in April.
These guys will thrive against Orlando’s vulnerable road defense.
Orlando’s One-Dimensional Offense
The Magic will fail to keep pace with Cleveland because of their one-dimensionality on offense. A team with one of the worst three-point conversion rates in the NBA, they do not shoot threes well.
They are one-dimensional in that they rely heavily on scoring inside. They attempt the second-most field goals within five feet of the basket.
NBA Best Bet
Cleveland will pack the paint with their length and stifle Orlando’s primary hope for scoring points. The two main actors here for Cleveland are Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
Both guys work well together in tandem to protect the rim. They are lengthy and impressively mobile for their size.
Mainly because of them, Cleveland does the sixth-best job of limiting opposing field goal efficiency within five feet of the basket.
NBA Pick: Cavaliers -4.5 (-110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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