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The Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors go at it again on Tuesday night as Game 2 of their first round series continues at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Stunned By Magic
The Raptors are the 2nd seed in the East and had the second best regular season record in the entire league as well. Heading to Game 1, they looked confident with former Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard leading the way. However in Game 1, D.J. Augustin hit a deep three-point basket over Leonard to give the Magic a 104-101 lead with 3.5 seconds left and then Leonard missed a potential game-tying three pointer on the other end as the Raptors got stunned by the Magic.
Leonard led the Raptors with 25 points in Game 1 while Pascal Siakam continued his stellar play with 24 points. Fred Van Vleet added 14 points off the bench while veterans Danny Green and Marc Gasol each scored 13 points. However, Kyle Lowry went scoreless as he missed all of his seven baskets although he had 8 assists and 7 rebounds.
Magic
+455
Raptors
-560
Odds from betonline.ag as of 4/16/19
Augustin Saves Orlando
The Magic rode D.J. Augustin’s heroics all-night long as he shot 9-13 from the floor and 4-5 from the three point area with six assists and one steal. After Kawhi Leonard gave the Raptors are 101-99 lead, it was Augustin who made the basket to tie the game at 101 apiece. He then capped off a stellar night with his game winning three-pointer that saved Orlando after it squandered a 16-point second quarter lead.
Orlando also got contributions from Evan Fournier who scored 16 points and Jonathan Isaac who had 11 markers. Aaron Gordon had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, All-star center Nikola Vucevic shot just 3-14 from the floor and finished with 11 points and 8 rebounds for Orlando.
Who Wins?
The Magic are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games played. Orlando is 5-2 SU in their last seven games played. The Raptors are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played. Toronto is 3-2 SU in their last five games played at home. Head to head, the Raptors are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games against the Magic.
The Raptors have a poor record in playoff series openers at 2-14. But don’t take anything away from Orlando who finished the regular season with a 22-9 SU record to clinch their first playoff appearance since 2012. They’ve been fighting for their playoff lives since the break and have played many similar high-stakes and small margin games.
Credit D.J. Augustin for making the big shot and it wasn’t a lucky one because he scored 25 points in Game 1. But I expect Nick Nurse to make adjustments in Game 2. Toronto is just too good not to make it past Round 1. Kyle Lowry had zero points in Game 1. If he gets his game back, it’s going to be the difference. I expect Lowry to bounce back in Game 2 as the Raptors even the series going to Orlando. I’m picking the Toronto Raptors to beat the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of their playoff series.
Other Bets To Make
Orlando is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Magic are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games on the road. Toronto is 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Raptors are 2-3 ATS in their last five games played at home. Head to head, the Magic are 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 games against the Raptors.
Magic
+10 (-110)
Raptors
-10 (-110)
Odds from betonline.ag as of 4/16/19
Orlando is 4-8 ATS in their last 12 conference quarterfinals games, 4-0 ATS in their last four games when playing on two-days rest and 5-0 ATS in their last five games overall. Toronto is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 conference semifinals games, 7-3 ATS in their last 10 Tuesday games and 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall. I think the Raptors are going to get the win this time but I don’t expect the Magic to simply go away. Orlando defends well and makes big shots. They have been one of the best teams in the league since the All-Star break. Toronto is just 11-18 ATS when favored by at least nine points and the Magic are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven Meetings. I like the Raptors but can’t simply shy away from the free buckets here. Prediction: Magic +10
The total has gone over in seven out of the last 10 games played by the Magic. The over is 5-2 in Orlando’s last seven games played. The total has gone under in five out of the last 10 games played by Toronto. The over is 3-2 in the Raptors’ last five games on the road. Head to head, the under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings between these two teams.
Magic
O 211.5 -110
Raptors
U 211.5 -110
Odds from betonline.ag as of 4/16/19
The over is 4-1-1 in the Raptors last six home games played and 7-0 in the Magic’s last seven games overall. Sure, both teams combined to score just 205 points in Game 1 but Orlando shot just 40% from the floor while Toronto shot just 33% from behind the three point arc. The Raptors are a team that averaged 114.4 points per game during the regular season. The defenses have improved since its the postseason but the Raptors have so many weapons on their team. Prediction: Over 211.5
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