Magic vs. Bucks Game 1 Prediction: NBA Playoff Odds, Point Spread
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Andrew Rogers
The Orlando Magic have exactly one thing going for them as they prepare to open their NBA Eastern Conference quarter-final series with Milwaukee: They won’t have to travel far once they’re eliminated. The Magic are the “hosts” for the duration of the playoffs – starting with Tuesday’s Game 1 – but that won’t provide much of an advantage as they find themselves as double-digit underdogs to a Bucks team that cruised to the best record in the East.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Milwaukee is a stone-cold lock to pick up the Game 1 victory according to oddsmakers, who have the beasts of the East as an overwhelming -809 moneyline play Tuesday. But the Bucks were only a semi-decent cover play during the season, going 39-34 ATS – and they went just 3-6 ATS in nine neutral-site games. The Magic were just 35-36-2 against the spread for the season, and split their eight neutral-site contests ATS in the regular-season restart.
The large spread hasn’t deterred Sports Interaction participants, who are 63 percent in favor of the Bucks ATS. An even larger contingent – 67 percent, to be exact – are leaning into the Over on the total of 225. Milwaukee went 35-37-1 O/U for the season and was 19-24-1 O/U against Eastern Conference opponents. Orlando was a much stronger Over play at 38-32-3 O/U during the regular season, but went just 18-23-2 O/U vs. the East.
Orlando Magic
The Magic can’t be feeling overly confident heading into Game 1. They dropped five straight games before finally putting out a six-point win over an undermanned New Orleans team to finish off their regular-season schedule. And they fared miserably against the East’s No. 1 seed during the 2019-20 campaign, losing all four head-to-head meetings by nine or more points. Four Orlando players averaged 13+ points vs. Milwaukee, led by Evan Fournier (20.5).
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks believe it’s their year to reach the NBA Finals – and that quest starts with eliminating a Magic team that is installed at +1500 to pull off the series upset. A Milwaukee sweep is set at +110, which tells you everything you need to know about Orlando’s chances. And expect plenty of action on those Giannis Antetokounmpo player props; the standout forward averaged 26.3 points, 15.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists in three regular-season meetings with the Magic.
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