The Orlando Magic are looking to steal Game 2 on the road when they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
The Cavs disposed of the Orlando Magic pretty easily in Game 1 as Orlando struggled to score in the 97-83 loss. Jamahl Mosley will have to make some adjustments to spark his offense, and that's why my NBA picks are targeting a specific Orlando guard.
Find out which player prop I'm backing in my Magic vs. Cavaliers predictions for April 22.
Magic vs Cavaliers predictions
My best bet
Cole Anthony Over 1.5 assists (+170 at bet365)
Best odds available in your region
My analysis
Cole Anthony was a consistent spark plug off the bench for the Orlando Magic all season, providing instant offense. However, his defense is a weak point, and with the bulk of the Cleveland Cavaliers' offense going through Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, his minutes were cut to 11 in Game 1 compared to his season average of 22.
After witnessing the Magic score just 83 points, I think Mosley will opt for a little more offense, and Anthony should see an uptick in minutes. The lane was completely clogged for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, lacking space for them to operate. So, Orlando must get more offensive threats on the floor to help generate space for its two young superstars.
This is where this bet gets really interesting for Anthony because when I say he played 11 minutes in Game 1, that doesn't sound like someone you'd want to bet on in Game 2. But the truth of the matter is, even if he only plays 11 minutes tonight, we still have an edge over the pricing on his assists total, which is trading at 1.5 (+170).
The fact Anthony played 11 minutes and had zero assists has sent this price point plummeting to a point that is not representative of the role he plays for this Magic offense, nor his skillset. A 1.5 priced at +170 is reserved for a player who isn't capable of generating offense, which is not Anthony. When he enters the game, he's on the ball and creating shots for his teammates.
This might be the worst-priced assists prop we've seen all season and there's a massive edge. I'm not even looking for his regular season average in minutes from Anthony here — the projection is closer to 14 minutes — which is only a small uptick from Game 1.
Anthony is projected to have 2.1 assists on Monday against the Cavaliers, which allows us to price the Over 1.5 assists at -152. Now that's what I call an edge.
Magic vs Cavaliers same-game parlay (SGP)
Cole Anthony 3+ assists
Anthony 10+ points
Anthony 2+ threes
The best bet is Anthony Over 1.5 assists, but if you're reading the same game parlay section of this article, you're probably looking for longer odds via a parlay. So let's have some fun here because I do believe the pricing is way off, and there is potential for a ladder with Anthony.
If Anthony sees the slight increase in minutes that I believe he will, all of these props are very much in reach. The one thing I do like about this SGP, specifically for Anthony, is that if he comes into the game and knocks down a 3-pointer, his minutes should only increase.
The Magic are desperate for shooting and floor spacing, so if Anthony can knock down a shot, his minutes could elevate past our projection and give you a chance to cash all of these legs in this parlay.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Magic vs Cavaliers odds
Magic vs Cavaliers live odds
Magic vs Cavaliers opening odds
- Spread: Orlando +5.5 | Cleveland -5.5
- Moneyline: Orlando +188 | Cleveland -225
- Over/Under: Over 204.5 | Under 204.5
Magic vs Cavaliers spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Cavaliers opened as 5.5-point favorites at FanDuel, and they are now trading as 5-point favorites.
- This is not a consensus number, as there are several sportsbooks still trading the Cavaliers at 5.5.
- The total opened at 204.5 at FanDuel and has moved one point towards the Under to 203.5.
- Considering both teams scored under 100 points in Game 1, it isn't shocking to see the market favor the Under on the total in Game 2.
Magic vs Cavaliers trend
The Cleveland Cavaliers have hit the first quarter game total Over in 26 of their last 39 games at home (+11.00 Units / 24% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Cavaliers.
Magic vs Cavaliers game info
| Location: | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH |
| Date: | Monday, 4-22-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | NBATV |
Magic vs Cavaliers latest injuries
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