The Orlando Magic just can’t seem to find the solution to end their current losing streak. After dropping another game on Monday, this one to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the going gets even tougher for the Magic who are set to face the defending champion San Antonio Spurs on the road.
Before this game’s tip-off, the Wizards and the Hawks will engage in a battle between two Eastern Conference top contenders. You can read a preview of that game here.
Orlando Magic vs. San Antonio Spurs Betting Preview
Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio
When: Wednesday, February 4, 2015, 8:30PM ET
Line: Orlando Magic (+12.5) at San Antonio Spurs (-12.5); total 203.5 — view all NBA lines
Betting on the Orlando Magic
The skid continues for the Magic, who suffered their ninth-consecutive defeat after falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, 104-97.
Orlando’s bad defense reared its ugly head once again against a Thunder team that’s already missing reigning league MVP Kevin Durant. The Magic allowed Russell Westbrook and company to shoot for close to 50 percent (37-for-75) from the field and 40% (8-for-20) from the three-point area.
Against an efficient basketball team in San Antonio, the Magic can’t afford to sleep on defense like they did in the OKC game. The Spurs are shooting 45.6% from the field thus far this season and are among the best three-point shooting teams in the NBA with 8.3 threes made per game on 36.7% clip.
The Magic’s offense doesn’t look any better as the team the team is scoring just 95.8 PPG. Nikola Vucevic (19.4 PPG and 11.2 RPG) and Tobias Harris (17.0 PPG) provide some spunk in the starting unit along with Victor Oladipo (16.8 PPG), but Orlando will have to coax its bench into producing more against San Antonio if they are to upset the Spurs. The Magic are weighed down by a weak bench that adds just 16.2 PPG, third-fewest in the NBA.
Orlando is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 road games.
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Betting on the San Antonio Spurs
Gregg Popovich must be wondering if it’s his Spurs team that lost to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, 105-85.
Aside from getting just 18 points combined from Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, the Spurs also uncharacteristically committed 17 turnovers. It was one of those rare nights that San Antonio played lethargically and they will look to bounce right back against a struggling 15-36 Magic team. Prior to losing to the Clippers, San Antonio had reeled off three straight wins—two against sub. 500 teams.
San Antonio entered the game against the Clippers 12th in the league in rebounding (43.7 RPG), but got thoroughly out-rebounded by L.A., 56-36. Orlando isn’t a great rebounding team, but the Spurs’ big men— led by Duncan—will have to keep Vucevic and Harris in check. Duncan paces the Spurs with 10.0 RPG followed by Kawhi Leonard, who hauls in 7.9 boards a game.
Speaking of Leonard, the Spurs forward led the team in the Clippers game with 24 points, which includes knocking down four three-pointers. Leonard is San Antonio’s top scorer with 15.6 PPG.
Leonard and the rest of the Spurs should be able to find it easier to score this time against Orlando, which gave up 107.2 PPG over its last five games.
San Antonio is 4-1 ATS in its last five home games against the Magic.
Writer’s Prediction
San Antonio wins, 105-95. Take Orlando to cover +12.5
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