Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 29/04/2024, 13:29  by Kennedy Kechula | Modified on 30/04/2024 at 12:00 in NBA Prediction

The Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Orlando Magic in game five of the two sides’ Eastern Conference first-round playoff matchup. After four games, the series is tied at 2-2 with each team protecting home court thus far. The Cavaliers were abysmal in Orlando for games three and four and have allowed the Magic a way back in the series. They will hope returning home allows them to retake the lead. J.B. Bickerstaff’s men won the first two matches of this series at home. Dean Wade, Ty Jerome and Craig Porter Jr. are expected to be sidelined once again with injuries. The Cavaliers are yet to score 100 points in this series and in the last match were humbled 112-89. They struggled from behind the arc and managed just four threes from 21 attempts. In the first two games, they combined for 20 made threes.

The Magic were in dominant form when the series switched to Orlando. Both matches were blowout victories with game three seeing them win by 38 points. Momentum has switched in their favour and they will be motivated to show that they can win on the road. The Magic last won a playoff series in the 2009/10 season. With how they have protected home court, they will start believing that this is the season they end this long wait. Orlando struggled with scoring the basket in the first two games of this series. They shot 32% and 36% from the field in both games but at home they shot above 50% in both matches. Jamahl Mosley’s men do not have any major injury concerns coming into this match. Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero are two of three players averaging over 20 points in this series. They are averaging 21 points each together with Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell.