There are 11 games around the Association on Friday night including the Eastern Conference showdown between the Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers, so hereโs my best betting pick with the latest team news and odds update on BetAmerica Sportsbook.
Orlando heads to Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis without Markelle Fultz, Mo Bamba, Jonathan Isaac, and Al-Farouq Aminu, while Michael Carter-Williams is listed as questionable. On the other side, the Pacers miss T.J. Warren and Caris LeVert, while Myles Turner is questionable to play, so both teams will be shorthanded.
The Magic just snapped a six-game skid
The Orlando Magic (7-8; 7-8 ATS) are coming off a 97-96 victory at the Minnesota Timberwolves last Wednesday, as Cole Anthony hit the buzzer-beating 3-pointer. They were on the verge of another disappointing loss, trailing by as many as 20 points, but the Magic rallied in the second quarter and fully deserved to beat the T-Wolves.
Nikola Vucevic had another solid game, accounting for 28 points on 11-for-27 shooting from the field, while Evan Fournier returned from a nine-game absence and dropped 24 points on Minnesota. Still, the Magic shot only 39.1% from the field against one of the worst defensive teams in the league.
Orlando is 28th in the NBA in points scored per 100 possessions (104.5). Furthermore, the Magic are dead last in field goal percentage (42.6%) and 3-point percentage (31.8%). They surrender 110.2 points per 100 possessions (17th in the NBA) on 47.3% shooting from the field (24th) and 36.9% from downtown (16th).
The Pacers look to avoid the third straight loss
The Indiana Pacers (8-6; 8-6 ATS) have dropped four of their last six games overall including the previous two to the LA Clippers 129-96 as 8-point road underdogs and Dallas 124-112 as 2.5-point home underdogs.
The Pacers kept it close against the Mavs until the fourth quarter when they allowed 31 points and scored just 20 in a return. Six Indiana players tallied points in double figures including Domantas Sabonis who finished with a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds.ย
Sabonis leads the way for the Pacers this season, posting 21.9 points, 12.6 boards, and 5.6 assists per game. Indiana scores 111.3 points per 100 possessions (11th) on 47.6% shooting from the field (9th) and 35.6% from deep (18th). The Pacers surrender 109.3 points in a return (14th) on 47.0% shooting from the field (23rd) and 39.0% from beyond the arc (28th).
[metabet_core_odds_compare query=”nba/pacers” size=”300×250″ site_id=”atsio” css=”float:right; margin-left:10px”]Trends:
Orlando:
- 1-5 ATS in the last six games on the road
- 1-6 ATS in the last seven games overall
- 1-4 ATS in the last five tilts against Eastern Conference
Indiana:
- 14-6 ATS in the last 20 games against Orlando
- 4-2 ATS in the last six contests against Eastern Conference
The Magic are one of the worst offensive teams in the league if not the worst one, so they could easily struggle even against the Pacersโ shaky defense. Nikola Vucevic and Domantas Sabonis will guard each other, and the Pacers certainly have more depth to help them escape with a win.
Indiana certainly has the potential to be a much better defensive team. The clash against Orlandoโs terrible offense is a nice chance to start improving, and the Pacers have won their last three matchups with the Magic while covering twice in the process.
Pick: Take Indiana -2.5 at -115
The Total:
The previous five encounters between the Magic and Pacers went in the over, but the under is 8-2-1 in Orlandoโs last 11 games. Both teams play at a steady pace, averaging around 100 possessions per 48 minutes, so betting on the totals is a tricky job here.
The line is set pretty low, but couldnโt expect more considering Orlandoโs offensive woes. I will have to lean on the teamsโ stats and take the under, hopping for another awful shooting night by the Magic and a mediocre performance by the Pacers.
Pick: Go under 217.5 points at -110