Orlando Magic vs Toronto Raptors Predictions, Picks, Odds, and NBA Basketball Betting Preview – Eastern Conference Playoffs Round 1 Game 5 – April 23 2019
The Toronto Raptors have a chance to finish the first-round series against the Orlando Magic this Tuesday at home. The Magic, however, will be all out, as they look to duplicate their feat in Game 1 – an upset win in Toronto. Will the Raptors advance to the second round? Or will the Magic live to see another game? See the latest odds for NBA Playoffs series here.
Betting on the Orlando Magic (58-24 Regular Season)
There’s never a good time to fall into a slump, especially in the playoffs, but that’s what the Magic are dealing with, as they have now lost three in a row after a 107-85 home loss in Game 4. It’s the first time Orlando has lost that many in consecutive fashion since January, and the Magic will have to get Nikola Vucevic to get going if they are to extend their life this season. Vucevic has mostly underwhelmed since the postseason kicked off. The All-Star big man averaged 20.8 points in the regular season, but has mustered just 12.5 over the last four games. In Game 4, he only had 11 points on just 5-for-14 shooting from the field. Granted that it’s understandably difficult for Vucevic to get into a rhythm because he’s being guarded by a frontcourt tandem of Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol, he still has to put up a better performance, as the Magic don’t have that many options on offense. The Magic won Game 1 in Toronto, so don’t count them out in Tuesday’s trip north of the border.
Orlando is 3-1 against the spread (ATS) in its last four road games.
Betting on the Toronto Raptors (42-40 Regular Season)
Kawhi Leonard personifies the Raptors with his play in the playoffs. He’s scoring a lot and making terrific defensive plays. In Game 3, Leonard dropped a game-high 34 points on 12-for-20 shooting from the field to go with two blocks, two steals, and a plus-minus of +20. Leonard is averaging 28.0 points per game thus far in the series. The Raptors have been making Orlando bleed for points since Game 2. The Magic haven’t scored more than 93 games in a game during that stretch and have shot just 38.4 percent from the field and 26.1 percent from deep. Pascal Siakam is another top performer for Toronto, as the versatile and mobile forward is putting up 22.3 points and grabbing 7.0 rebounds on the series. Leonard and Siakam, however, are the only Raptors averaging more than 11.0 points per game in the first round, which brings a negative light to Kyle Lowry, who hasn’t been shooting the ball well of late. He is averaging only 10.8 points on 39.5 field goal percentage thus far in the series.
The Raptors are 3-1 ATS in their last four home games.
