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The Orlando Magic travel North to take on the Toronto Raptors in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.
Disappearing Act
The Orlando Magic opened the series with a huge victory over the 2nd seeded Toronto Raptors but since that game, the Magic have put on a disappearing act as the Toronto Raptors have taken control of the series with a three games to one lead over the upstart e Magic.
Aaron Gordon led Orlando’s valiant effort in Game 4 with a 25 points effort. He made his first seven shots of the second half. Evan Fournier added 19 points while first-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic scored 11 points for the Magic who were forced into committing 17 turnovers that were converted to 21 points by the Raptors. But despite their gallant effort, it just appears that the Magic simply don’t have enough talent to topple the mighty Raptors.
Magic
+600
Raptors
-800
Odds from betonline.ag as of 4/23/19
Taking Control
The Raptors were stunned at the start of the series, but they kept their composure and have taken control with a 3-1 lead. Raptors have a chance to close the series at home on Tuesday night. This is only the third time that the Raptors have won three straight playoff games in their history
Kawhi Leonard missed the entire 2018 postseason with an injury but this year, with his new team, he is making up for lost time. Leonard scored 34 to lead the Raptors in Game 2. Meanwhile, Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell each had 16 points for Toronto while Serge Ibaka had 13 points and Kyle Lowry had nine assists for Toronto who are looking to go deeper in the postseason this year after getting swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 playoffs.
Who Wins?
Orlando is 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played and the Magic are 4-2 SU in their last six games played on the road. Toronto is 8-2 SU in their last 10 games played and the Raptors are 3-1 SU in their last four games played at home. Head to head, the Raptors are 7-3 SU in their last 10 meetings with the Magic.
The Orlando Magic opened the series with a bang and they beat the Raptors with a game-winning triple from D.J. Augustin. That has only been the highlight of the series for Orlando as things have gone downhill from there. The Magic need big performances from Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon, and Augustin to extend this series.
The Toronto Raptors have dominated the last three games of this series and are showing that they are a class above their over-achieving opponents. Toronto just has so much firepower, so much depth and so much experience over Orlando. They are really on a roll right now.
It’s been a great run for the Orlando Magic and this season is both a learning experience and an achievement. Given that this is a very young team, Orlando has ways to go but probably won’t reach the next level unless they add a superstar player in the mold of Kawhi Leonard. The Raptors want to get some rest going to the next round and will finish this at home.
I’m picking the Toronto Raptors to beat the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of their first-round series.
Other Bets To Make
The Magic are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games played. Orlando is 4-2 ATS in their last six games played on the road. The Raptors are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games played and Toronto is 3-1 ATS in their last four games at home. Head to head, the Magic are 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 games against the Raptors.
Magic
+11.5 (-105)
Raptors
-11.5 (-115)
Odds from betonline.ag as of 4/23/19
Orlando is 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 games against teams with a winning record, 6-1 ATS in their last seven games against Eastern Conference teams, 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall. Toronto is 6-1 ATS in their last seven days when playing on one-day rest, 8-3 ATS in their last 11 Tuesday games and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall. Orlando is also 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine meetings. Orlando was blown out by 29 in Game 2 and 18 in Game 4 but with their season on the line, I think they fight hard in this game and keep this a single-digit affair. I’ll take the plus money and the underdogs here. If Orlando’s going down, they are going down fighting.
Prediction: Magic +11.5
The total has gone over in six out of the last 10 games played by the Magic. The over is 4-2 in Orlando’s last six road games. The total has gone under in six out of the last 10 games played by the Raptors. The over is 16-12 in Toronto’s 28 games against Eastern Conference teams. Head to head, the under is 8-2 in the last 10 games between these two teams.
Magic
O 206 -105
Raptors
U 206 -115
Odds from betonline.ag as of 4/23/19
The first four games of this series have gone under with the last three games producing a total below 200 points. Orlando’s just scoring 86.67 points per game in the last three games of this series. I think this is going to be another low-scoring game between two good defensive teams.
Prediction: Under 206
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