FEARFUL: Dangerous attack on Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley after Cavaliers match.
The Orlando Magic (30-25) meet the Cleveland Cavaliers (36-17) Thursday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Magic vs. Cavaliers odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
Season series: Cavaliers lead 2-1
The Cavaliers won the most recent meeting in Orlando Jan. 22, posting a 126-99 victory as 2.5-point favorites as the Over (215) cashed. Cleveland has won 6 of the past 7 head-to-head meetings, while going 5-1-1 against the spread (ATS) during the span.
Cleveland streaked into the break with 18 wins in 20 games to surge to the top of the Central Division, 2½ games clear of the Milwaukee Bucks with 3 games in hand. However, the Cavaliers are just 1-3 ATS in their past 4 home games. The Under is 4-1 in Cleveland’s past 5 outings, and 13-5-1 in the previous 19 contests.
Orlando posted a 118-100 win against the New York Knicks in its final game prior to the All-Star break Feb. 14, covering as a 3.5-point home favorite as the Over (210.5) cashed. The Magic are 8-2 ATS in the past 10 games, while the Over has cashed in 5 in a row.
Coming out of the break, the Cavs have some good news, as C Evan Mobley (knee) is no longer under a minutes restriction. However, leading scorer G Donovan Mitchell (illness) carries a questionable tag due to illness.
For the Magic, F Markelle Fultz (knee) is ruled out due to a left knee injury, but G’s Gary Harris (calf) and Jalen Suggs (groin) no longer appear on the injury report after pre-break ailments.
Magic at Cavaliers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:17 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Magic +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | Cavaliers -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
Against the spread: Magic +6.5 (-110) | Cavaliers -6.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 215.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Magic at Cavaliers key injuries
Magic
G Markelle Fultz (knee) out
Cavaliers
G Donovan Mitchell (illness) questionable
C Tristan Thompson (suspension) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Magic at Cavaliers picks and predictions
Prediction
Cavaliers 115, Magic 106
Moneyline
The Cavaliers (-250) will cost 2½ times your potential return. That’s too much risk for not enough reward.
On the flip side, the Magic (+200) aren’t worth playing as Orlando has had tremendous difficulty with the Cavs this season, and in recent seasons.
AVOID.
Against the spread
The CAVALIERS -6.5 (-110) are a strong play as they look to pick up right where they left off prior to the break.
As mentioned, Cleveland won 18 of 20 games straight up, but it wasn’t as effective against the number. The Cavs are just 2-3 ATS in the past 5 games, and 4-5 ATS across the past 9 outings.
While the Magic picked up covers in 8 of the previous 10 games before the break, they have struggled against the Cavs, and they can’t be trusted.
Over/Under
OVER 215.5 (-110) is a strong play as these teams emerge from the All-Star break.
It’s been all about the Under for Cleveland lately, cashing in 4 of the past 5 games, while going 13-5-1 in the previous 19 outings.
However, for the Magic, they cashed the Over in the final 5 games before the break. While the Cavs defense ranks 2nd in the NBA by allowing 109.2 points per game (PPG), the Over has cashed in 2 of the 3 meetings vs. the Magic this season. One of those winning Over tickets was when the Cavs beat the Magic 121-111 — a combined 232 points — with a closing O/U line of 225.5 in the only previous meeting in Cleveland this season Dec. 6.
