Cleveland Cavaliers (48-34) vs. Orlando Magic (47-35)
As the NBA Playoffs forge ahead, the focus sharpens on the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic, who are set to clash in Game 3 of the first round on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Holding closely matched regular season records, the Cavaliers and Magic have demonstrated that slight edges can determine the outcome of playoff games, making this an intriguing contest for Playoff NBA betting picks. The game is scheduled to take place at the Kia Center and promises to be a pivotal moment in this postseason series.
The Cavaliers finished the regular season quite well, with an average of 112.6 points per game for their offense. The effectiveness of the offense can be seen in the fact that it operates at 47.9% from the field and 36.7% from the three-point line, which sees 13.5 three-pointers per game made on average. Another merit of Cleveland is its great rebounding, 43.3 rebounds and an amazing playmaking, 28 assists per game. Nevertheless turnovers (12.7 per game), can be a point of worry as the Magic team is known for its good defense.
On the other hand, Orlando Magic also put up very admirable numbers with an average of 110.5 points per game. They shoot almost as well as the Cavaliers, 47.6% against 47.4%, and they make fewer threes, 11 per game instead of 11.6, but their free-throw attempts per game, 24.4, are testimony to an aggressive style of play in drawing fouls and getting free throws. The Magic’s slightly better defensive rebounding and blocks per game (5.2) suggest their defensive tenacity which might determine the outcome of the tight playoff game.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic Game Info
| When: | Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 7:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Kia Center |
| TV: | NBAt |
| Stream: | NBA League Pass |
Donovan Mitchell (SG) vs. Paolo Banchero (PF)
Donovan Mitchell, a starting guard in the 55 games he played, was a scoring champion, averaging 26.6 points on huge minutes. With (6.1) assists per game and (1.8) steals per game which demonstrates his overall importance to the team’s performance. Mitchell’s creative playmaking and scoring abilities will be an important contribution to the team, but he needs to keep a tight leash on his high turnover rate (2.8 per game); during crucial times.
The backbone for the Magic, Paolo Banchero, acted just as significant by playing in all 80 regular season games and averaging 22.6 points per game and 6.9 rebounds. He has the height and skill that enable him to be versatile, even though his turnover rate (3.1 per game) is something to be worried about in defense for a steal-happy Cavaliers. Banchero’s play will be key in exposing the Cavaliers’ interior defense.
The encounter between these important characters could determine the rhythm of the game. It is between a great scorer and a very good all-rounder. Mitchell and Banchero each could swing a game with individual brilliance in favor of their teams.
NBA Odds/Point Spread: Cleveland Cavaliers -105, Total Odds: 199.5
The odds set a tight line with the Cavaliers at -105 on the moneyline and the game total at 199.5. This suggests a closely contested matchup, reflective of their almost identical seasonal and recent form.
Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends
The Cavaliers have an interesting pattern, they have 2-3 wins both overall and against the spread in their last five games. What is remarkable is that the totals for those games have gone OVER in 3 of the last 5, results which seem to indicate that their games tend to be high scoring, maybe because of their productivity.
Orlando Magic Betting Trends
Likewise, the Magic managed to have a 2-3 record in its last 5 games overall and against the spread. Yet, since the Spurs are good at covering more spreads on the road (23-18), which is more than that of the Cavaliers, they might end up to be the winner in this away occasion.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic 4/25/24 Betting Picks
Considering the statistics and recent forms, this matchup leans slightly towards the Orlando Magic, mainly due to their consistent ability to cover the spread in away games and a slightly better defensive edge. However, the Cavaliers’ home court advantage and scoring prowess should not be underestimated, making this a potential thriller.
In terms of betting, the over on 199.5 total points seems a plausible pick, given both teams’ recent trends of going OVER. As for the winner, leaning towards the Magic to cover the -1.5 spread seems a reasonable choice, particularly with their performance on the road. For those looking into prop bets, considering player performance like points or rebounds for key players like Mitchell and Banchero could offer value, providing an engaging angle for those using the best bookie software.
