Magic vs. Raptors Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
The Dinos are favoured to win on the NBA odds.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Presuming the Raptors will be able to play their home games back in Toronto next season, this will be the last version of the Interstate 4 rivalry between Orlando and the Raptors as Tampa is about 80 southwest of Orlando on I-4. The Magic recently waived Canadian Khem Birch, and he will finish the season with the Raptors. Orlando is in full-blown tank mode trying to get the top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Coach Steve Clifford is probably a long shot to be back next year.
These two played a home-and-home set on Jan. 31 and Feb. 2 and the Raptors won both by double digits. Fred VanVleet averaged 31.5 points in the two, while Pascal Siakam averaged 21.0 points, and Kyle Lowry 13.0 points and 12.5 assists.
Since those two games, the Magic traded their best player, All-Star centre, Nikola Vucevic, to Chicago. He averaged 18.0 points and 16.0 rebounds in the two previous meetings. Evan Fournier averaged 16.0 points in the two, but he has since been traded to Boston.
The Raptors are 8-2 straight up in the past 10 meetings and 7-3 against the spread.
Orlando Magic
Orlando did the Raptors a big favour in terms of finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference and earning the final spot in the play-in tournament as the Magic went to Chicago on Wednesday as big underdogs and dominated 115-106 to end a six-game losing streak. James Ennis had a season-high 22 points, while former Bulls big man Wendell Carter Jr. had 19 points and 12 rebounds. Former lottery pick Mo Bamba was out with a left hip injury.
The Bulls are now just one game ahead of Toronto for 10th in the East, and Chicago could easily lose at home Friday to Memphis. Orlando is 39-52 all-time vs. Toronto and has played the Raptors once in London, once in Orlando and once in Tampa. That’s pretty unusual. The Magic are 7-3 ATS in their past 10 as road dogs overall.
Toronto Raptors
Ah, the baffling Raptors. They lose when they are supposed to win and win when they are supposed to lose. Down Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr. and De’Andre Bembry while also playing the second of a back-to-back Wednesday, the Raptors were 5.5-point underdogs vs. San Antonio – which had been playing well – in Tampa. So, naturally, the Dinos were 117-112 winners. OG Anunoby had 22 points, Pascal Siakam 22 points and 12 rebounds, Khem Birch 14 points and six rebounds (we told you it was likely he would move into the starting lineup), and Malachi Flynn 16 points and seven assists.
Yuta Watanabe (!) had 11 points and four rebounds, Freddie Gillespie (!!) nine points and eight rebounds, and Paul Watson (!!!) nine points and two rebounds. Wow. The good news is that Lowry, VanVleet and Trent Jr. all could return Friday. Lowry was simply rested again, VanVleet officially served his one-game suspension, so that means he has been cleared from injury, and Trent Jr. is dealing with a minor ankle issue. The Raptors are 4-6 ATS in their past 10 as home favourites.
ORL
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