Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 04/05/2024, 14:26  by Kennedy Kechula | Modified on 05/05/2024 at 05:00 in NBA Prediction

The Cleveland Cavaliers will welcome the Orlando Magic for game seven of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff matchup. Each team has won three matches in this series and the winner here will advance to the semi-finals. The Cavaliers missed the chance to close the Magic in game six in Orlando. They will now hope to do so at home, where they haven’t lost in this series. J.B. Bickerstaff’s men were defeated 103-96 in game six despite Donovan Mitchell scoring 50 points. The guard tried to will his team to victory without second-top scorer Jarrett Allen. He scored all of Cleveland’s 18 points in the fourth quarter. The team’s faithful will hope he did not tire himself out and still has much more left in the tank. Mitchell is averaging 27 points in this series and is the only Cavs player putting up at least 20 a game. Allen, who is averaging 17 points and a team-high 13.8 rebounds, has missed the last two matches with injury. His absence has exposed the Cavaliers’ lack of size. Aside from Allen, the Cavs have also had to do without Dean Wade, Craig Porter Jr., and Ty Jerome. Cleveland are averaging 94.2 points in this series and are shooting 44% from the field.

The Magic have done as the Cavs have and have protected home court in this matchup. Now they need an away victory to win their first playoff series since the 2009/10 season. They were close to earning a road win in game five as they agonizingly lost 104-103. The Magic’s defence has been key and only once have they allowed the Cavaliers to score at least 100 points. Paolo Banchero was again the main points-getter for Jamahl Mosley’s men in game six. He tallied 27 points with Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs contributing with 26 and 22 points respectively. Banchero and Wagner are two of the three players in this series averaging over 20 points. The Magic have size on their side and have benefited with Jarret Allen’s absence. They are averaging 44.3 rebounds a game to Cleveland’s 40 with 11 being on the offensive glass. Orlando are averaging 101.3 points and are shooting 43.4% from the field. Gary Harris missed game six with a hamstring problem and is also expected to be absent here.