Toronto Raptors vs Orlando Magic Predictions, Picks, Odds, and NBA Basketball Betting Preview – Eastern Conference Playoffs Round 1 Game 4 – April 21 2019
The Raptors are up 2-1 in their round 1 series against the Orlando Magic after Friday night’s game ended 98-93 in favor of the visitors. The two teams traded quarters, the Toronto owning the 1st and 3rd and the Orlando leading in the 2nd and 4th, but alas the Raps won their quarters with a greater point differential and sealed the deal. With another game at Amway Center before heading back to Canada, Toronto hopes to take another on the road and put an end to this Eastern Conference series on Tuesday. But let’s see what will happen on Easter Sunday first.
Betting on the Toronto Raptors (58-24 Regular Season)
The Raptors points didn’t come from Kawhi Leonard or Kyle Lowry on Friday night. Instead the unlikely hero against the Magic Kingdom was Pascal Siakam who nearly doubled his PPG average of 16.9, with a 30 point performance. Spicy P also pulled down 11 rebounds and handed out 4 assists while teammates Leonard and Lowry put in just 16 and 12 points respectively. As fourth best in the league in team defensive efficiency, they contained Orlando just enough when the game could have swayed in the home team’s favor. But they will need to show more of that defensive grit if they expect to go further in a LeBron James-less Eastern Conference. Look for them to come out with more aggression and energy on Sunday, as the last thing they want to do is go back to Toronto 2-2 in the series, as the city is getting tired of false promises.
After a win this season, the Raptors are 26-32-1 against the spread (ATS), covering only 44.8% of the time. Expect them to go against that grain in game four.
Betting on the Orlando Magic (42-40 Regular Season)
Nikola Vučević was the man for the Magic in Friday’s game, scoring 22 points, doling out 6 assists, and scraping for 14 boards. The high-scorer however, came off the bench as Terrence Ross put in 24 points on 8/17 shooting. But the team’s field goal percentage was dismal (36.3%), as was their 29.5% from beyond the arc, which is enough below their 35.6% 3-point percentage on the season to make the difference tonight. Hit two more threes and the win column tips in their favor. Orlando was only out-rebounded by Toronto 43-42, and gave up 3 more turnovers. They were great from the line however, hitting 22-23 free throws. Again, this game could have gone differently with ease, and they will hear that from head coach Steve Clifford in the locker room prior to Sunday’s game.
After a loss this season, Orlando is 21-18-2 ATS, and on the year as a whole they are 46-37-2 ATS, covering 55.4% of the time. While not dramatically so, signs point to Orlando covering in game four.
Writer’s Prediction
Toronto reestablishes their strength in the East, flexing to a 105-87 win.
