Magic vs. Raptors Point Spread: NBA Odds, Prediction
It’s now clear that Toronto is going to finish second in the Eastern Conference standings behind Milwaukee. That means the Raptors would face the No. 7 seed in the first round of the playoffs. That could be Monday’s opponent, the Orlando Magic. They could miss the playoffs altogether or finish sixth, seventh or eighth.
Orlando hasn’t played extra basketball since the 2011-12 season, which the last of the Stan Van Gundy era. The Magic’s next two games should be wins as they host the Knicks and Hawks, but the last two in Boston and Charlotte will be tough if those teams have anything to play for.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Magic have lost eight of the last 13 meetings with the Raptors overall but lead this season 2-1. Orlando lost 113-98 in Toronto on Feb. 24 and has dropped nine of the previous 11 there. All-Star Nikola Vucevic has been a monster vs. the Raptors this year in averaging 22.3 points and 16.3 rebounds. Former Raptor Terrence Ross is averaging 15.3 points.
Kawhi Leonard has played in two of the three vs. Orlando and is averaging 19.5 points and 6.0 rebounds. Kyle Lowry also two and putting up 14.0 points and 8.5 assists.
The Magic are 3-1-1 ATS in their past five trips to Toronto. The total has gone under in five of the past six meetings overall.
Orlando Magic
Orlando is playing some of its best basketball of the season in winning seven of eight. The Magic are off a 121-116 upset victory at Indiana on Saturday. Vucevic has been arguably the second-best centre in the East this season. He had 19 points vs. the Pacers and is averaging 21.9 points and 12.1 rebounds in Magic victories. Aaron Gordon, one of the NBA’s most athletic players, had 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists on Saturday.
The team’s 2018 first-round pick, centre Mo Bamba, is out with a leg injury. Orlando’s 38 wins already are a 13-game improvement over last season. It is tied for the third-largest win improvement in team history. The Magic are 13-3-1 ATS in their past 17 vs. teams with a winning record.
Toronto Raptors
It’s Toronto’s penultimate regular-season home game (finale is Sunday vs. Miami). The Raptors won their third straight game Saturday, 124-101 in Chicago. Leonard was out for personal reasons, Pascal Siakam was given the night off and OG Anunoby remained sidelined with a concussion.
Serge Ibaka had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Fred VanVleet also had 23 points and Marc Gasol had likely his best game in a Toronto uniform with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists. It was the first time both Gasol and Ibaka started. The Raptors are looking to avoid dropping a season series to the Magic for the first time since 2011-12. Toronto is just 3-9 ATS in its past 12 at home.
