Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview
Where: Staples Center — Los Angeles, CA
When: Tuesday, January 8, 2016, 9:30 PM ET
Line: Orlando Magic (+1.5) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (-1.5); total: 216.0 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TWSN / FSFL
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Betting on the Orlando Magic (16-22)
Point Spread: +1.5
Orlando dropped its second-straight game, and the fourth in its last five (1-4 ATS), when the streaking Rockets came to town Friday night, 100-93.
But looking at the final score, the effort was clearly there for the Magic, who held an eight-point halftime lead before eventually being outscored in the second half, 56-41. Both the offense and defense were active, as five Orlando players finished with at least 10 points and James Harden was held to his second-lowest point total of the season: 14.
Aaron Gordon led the starters with 18 points and seven assists, marking his fourth-straight double-digit performance. Then there was D.J. Augustin’s team-leading 19 points that gave the Magic a slightly unexpected lift off the bench.
Speaking of which, the second unit will need to step up again versus a Lakers squad that plays a lot better at home, and one that boasts the highest-scoring bench in the league today with almost 50 points per game. Orlando’s bench currently ranks 10th overall, averaging exactly 37.9 per outing.
Betting on the Los Angeles Lakers (14-26)
Point Spread: -1.5
Many of the Lakers’ losses this season are games where they wasted double-digit leads—a habit that head coach Luke Walton’s been desperately hoping to break. His troops yielded once again an early 10-point advantage on Friday night against the visiting Heat, but this time, the outcome was a W.
LA had one of its rare complete games wherein it looked like a playoff team. The purple and gold racked up a season-high 127 points on 50 percent shooting, with Lou Williams (24), Luol Deng (19) and D’Angelo Russell (19) leading the way.
Julius Randle also added another solid game into his impressive season, chipping in 15 points, six rebounds and three dimes. He’s averaging 16.5 points, 9.5 boards and 6.3 assists through four games this month.
The Lakers defense, meanwhile, held Miami to just 41.3 percent shooting, including 25.0 percent from the three-point distance. A repeat of this all-around effort from the Lakers, who have now won two of their last three games (2-1 ATS), should guarantee them another win later against Orlando.
Keep in mind though, LA hasn’t played consistent basketball since its 10-10 start earlier this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Expect it to be close, with both teams exchanging leads back and forth. But home is where the Lakers (-1.5) usually thrive and get a major boost of their beloved crowd. Thus, I think they’ll break away down the stretch for a 110-101 win.
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